Chapter: 2 Rendezvous

"Because everyone needs a hero. Someone to guide them to the light. To become a symbol. To become hope. I've done it for you, and someday, you...will do it for everyone. The world needs you, Tomas. Be its hero."

"Tomas?"

Tomas shook himself free of his late master's words. "Huh?" He rolled over in bed, his hair a tangled mess.

Resting next to him was his beloved wife, Zi. She caressed his cheek, simultaneously clearing the hair from his face. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes of course." he sighed. "Just...thinking."

Zi kissed his forehead, "Oh my dear. You think too much. We both do." She sat up and slid to the side of the bed with a stretch.

"What time is it?" yawned Tomas.

"It'll be sunup soon," replied Zi.

Tomas loosed a groan and rolled himself out of bed, placing his muscular arms over Zi's shoulders. He kissed the back of her neck, "Five more minutes."

"Honey," she intoned. He kissed her neck again, making her coo. "Alright, five more minutes." She turned towards him and planted a longing kiss on his lips. She giggled at the sensation of his beard tickling at her chin. She nestled herself in his arms as he led her back under the covers. Her hands roamed his bare upper body while his entangled themselves in her raven hair. There was something soothing about being at sea. Tomas and Zi could feel the serenity within as waves gently rocked the royal galleon.

As Tomas passionately kissed his wife, he heard a squeak and shuttered. His snowgie companion sat on the nightstand with a huge grin. "Lucky! What'd I tell you about watching us kiss-"

"At least we're only kissing," laughed Zi. She pat Lucky on the head, "Good morning, sweetheart. Will you go wake up Benji for us?" The snowgie nodded and scurried through the crack in the bedroom door. Lucky dashed as fast as his tiny feet could carry him, and slid across the deck and into another living quarters.

"The sun prepares to rise over the sea," Ben said to himself while writing in his journal. "With the new dawn comes new wonder, and the beginning of our investigation...our quest to uncover the mystery of King Agdar, and Queen Idun." He inked his quill just as Lucky came squeaking in. "Oh! Good morning, little Lucky!" Ben straightened his glasses. "Just chronicling our latest adventure. He cracked his neck, "Is it morning already? Good. I'm practically famished." He shut his book, put on his green coat, and exited his quarters. With a deep breath, he sighed, "What a peaceful morning on the waves."

"RISE AND SHINE! UP AND AT'EM!" barked a voice from the upper quarters. Out stormed Captain Alek. Captain Audrey trailed behind him with a stern stride. With a stomp he exclaimed, "Crewmen to the sails! I want us at the rendezvous point at sunrise!" Arendellian sailors ran for their positions and readied the galleon for maximum mobility. The Crusader was the finest vessel in all of Arendelle's moderately stocked navy. A row of cannons protruded from each side of the green-painted wood. Arendelle's crest shined against the sails as the sun slowly began to appear over the horizon.

As it did, Tomas and Zi emerged from their quarters, each wearing an Arendellian military coat. Tomas was in blue, and Zi was of course in her signature scarlet color. "It's about time you lovers woke up," joked Benjamin.

With the rising sun came a surging wave. "Is that the signal?" wondered Tomas.

Zi climbed up to the crow's nest for a better look. "It's him alright!" she hollered before sliding back down.

The mighty wave was beginning to flow towards the ship when Alek barked, "Queen on deck!" Everyone stood at attention as Elsa emerged from her quarters. The icy blonde was followed by her sister, Anna.

Once Elsa stood next to the helm, all gave a respectful bow. "Here you go, sis." Anna nudged as she handed Elsa a scroll. It was the inspirational speech she had spent all night writing.

"Thank you, Anna." The queen replied. "My faithful crew...today we-"

SPLOOOOOOOOOOSH!

The tidal wave splashed everyone on board. Elsa stood in shock, soaked to the skin. Anna was giggling behind her as she huffed. Her speech had been reduced to nothing more than a soggy cluster of paper. She dropped it and said, "Let's just do this."

"Brilliant inspiration!" applauded Tomas pitifully. Elsa glared at him as he chuckled with a shrug.

The title wave morphed into a whirlpool, and out emerged the Sea King himself, Triton. "Your majesty," bowed Tomas. "Thank you for meeting with us."

"The pleasure is mine. Any friend of my daughter's is one of my own." Triton peered over his shoulder. "Speaking of which,"

Ariel emerged from the surface, her chest cupped in a seashell bra. "Princess Ariel?" wondered Alek. "Enchanted wave or not, you must be exhausted after swimming out this far. Climb aboard and rest your legs."

Ariel flashed a wobbly smirk. "Um...About my legs." She gently leaned back, hoisting a bright green tailfin into the air.

"What the?!" gasped Tomas.

"Tomas," chuckled Zi. "Remember...Father...King of the sea..."

"Ahhhh gotcha," Tomas nodded. "Thanks, dear."

Elsa produced a single clap with her hands, "Right then. You say you've found the ship?"

Ariel nodded, "Which of you will be journeying under with me?"

Tomas shook his head, "How could we-"

"Tomas...Remember...Father...King of the sea...Magic trident."

"Right," Tomas facepalmed.

SLAP!

Zi loosed a sigh. "And you were doing so well. Why don't you join the royal sisters? I'll stay here keep things in check."

She kissed him as Ben grumbled. "Don't look at me! I hate swimming."

"It's settled then," replied Elsa. "Come along, Anna. The sisters stood along Tomas as Triton's trident began to glow.

"Hold still," affirmed the king.

BURZZZZZZZZZZT!

The trio was zapped by a blinding beam of golden energy. Lucky worriedly hid in Zi's hair, trembling at the magical sight before him. The beam began to pulse with glistening rings of fire, before blasting off into sparkles. When the lightshow cleared, Tomas felt himself splash into the water alongside Elsa and Anna. As he emerged, he felt his feet pressed together. In fact, he didn't have feet at all. Tomas was now bare-chested, and his legs were replaced by dark blue tailfin. He gasped at the sight as Elsa did the same. Hers was an icy teal, and her breasts were held with sky blue seashells. Anna flailed about in her pink tail, gawking at its fluidity. "I'm...I'm a mermaid!" she giggled.

"Incredible," gasped Elsa.

"Impossible," whispered Alek.

"You're telling me, Mon." said a crab on his shoulder. Alek fainted upon seeing the talking creature.

Audrey just barely caught the fainting captain and rolled her eyes.

Ariel swam around Tomas with a giggle, "Don't worry. You'll get used to it!" The Arendellian awkwardly flopped from side to side, his new tail twitching away. She swam next to her father and motioned with her hand. "Follow us." Anna and Elsa joined Tomas as they dove deeper underwater. They ventured into the darkened depths, leaving the morning sunlight behind. Tomas glanced upwards, watching the light slowly fade until it was a mere reflection on the surface. Several minutes into the sea trek, and the trio had already begun to understand swimming with a tailfin.

"How much further?" asked Elsa.

Ariel quickly replied, "Just beyond this kelp forest!"

Audrey peered from the ship's bow, observing the still waters. "Well...now what?"

"We wait," scoffed Alek.

"I'm tired of waiting!" she stamped. "I've been waiting for over a decade."

"You can always jump in and swim after them," joked Zi.

Audrey glared at her when Benjamin added, "Be sure to take a deep breath too!"

"No need," chuckled Alek. "That head of hers is filled with plenty of air."

"What did you say?!" snapped Audrey before she stomped towards the captain. They stared each other down and began to heckle.

"Here we go again," Ben shook his head before nudging Zi. "Ten coins says Audrey slaps him." Zi remained frozen. "Zi? You alright, dear?"

Zi stared out to sea, watching as a red-sailed junk began to appear over the horizon. "What in the world?"

Ben cleaned his glasses, "Isn't that, the Empress?"

Zi removed a telescope from her coat pocket and got a closer look. She could see Chinese markings on its tattered sails. She remembered the junk all too well from her voyage to China over a year ago. "It is the Empress. But what is Sao Feng doing in these waters?"

"Perhaps bringing another one of your companions to see us," wondered Ben.

Zi gasped upon seeing crew members rushing to their heavy-iron cannons. "I don't think so." She handed Ben the telescope.

He yelped at the sight, "Maybe they're just...cleaning their cannons?"

BOOOOOOOM!

A cannonball blasted across the waves and smashed across the Crusader's deck. "Does that answer your question?!" exclaimed Zi. "Battle stations!" Zi leapt to the helm and sounded the alarm. "Captain Alek! Battle stations!"

"In a moment, Zi." urged Alek. "This banshee needs to be taught a lesson in manners."

"ALEK!" screamed Zi.

"Until next time, my dear." sneered Alek before leaving Audrey with a groan. Crew members rushed to positions as he shouted, "Prepare to fire broadside cannons!"