1Smarts Ain't Everything That's Important
Chapter 7: The Kappa
About two days later, Muffy called down, "Dylan, Jareth is here."
Dylan walked up slowly. "Hey, Jareth, what's up?" he asked.
"Yeah, Dylan, you know when Vincent said that Gloria had been leaving the farm the other day?" said Jareth.
"Yeah, what about it?" asked Dylan.
"Well, I saw her the other day, and you'll never believe what she was doing," said Jareth.
"What, someone besides you actually likes poison mushrooms?" Dylan said sarcastically. "Seriously, even if a plant bit her nose off, I think she'd adore it."
"No way, bro. This is much more interesting," said Jareth. "Come on, come on. And be sure to bring your notepad."
"Fine," Dylan grumbled. He followed Jareth out as the gothic punk skipped along.
Soon, the two teenagers were on the bank of Turtle Swamp.
"What's so special here?" Dylan asked dully.
"Well, think about it, bro," said Jareth. "What would Gloria be doing here?"
"Oh, I don't know. Gathering wild herbs or something," said Dylan.
"Not even, bro," said Jareth. "She was actually doing something much more interesting. I actually couldn't believe, with how much time I spend here, that I never knew."
"Knew what?" asked Dylan.
Jareth picked his hat up off his head. "Look," he said, pulling something out of his hat.
"A cucumber?" asked Dylan.
"Ah, but hold on a minute," said Jareth. "Watch what you can do with the cucumber." He reeled his arm back.
Suddenly, humming filled the swamp.
"Yikes, like, get into the brush, bro," said Jareth, leaping away from the bank. "Gloria's coming."
Dylan walked over nonchalantly and ducked down.
Gloria walked cautiously into the clearing. She looked both left and right. However, her eye was trained to see ailing plants, not hiding people, so she did not see Dylan and Jareth. She reached into her pack and pulled out a cucumber.
"Okay, what the heck is so special about the cucumber," whispered Dylan.
"Shh," replied Jareth.
Gloria looked to both sides again before she threw the cucumber into the water. It sank with a few bubbles floating up.
Dylan stared blankly at the spot.
After about a minute, the water began to stir. What looked like a green human peeked out of the water. It continued to rise, revealing a turtle's beak and a massive turtle. It's limbs were long and ended in webbed hands with black claws. In the middle of his head was a dip where water remained.
"A kap-" Dylan started.
Jareth covered Dylan's mouth. "No talk. Write," he whispered sharply.
The kappa just sort of stood where he was for a minute. He slowly walked across the water's surface, carrying the cucumber. When he approached the edge, he looked down at the girl. "Glo... ri... a," he said slowly.
Gloria blushed. "And how are you today? Is the swamp doing well?" asked Gloria.
The kappa didn't answer. Instead, he started sniffing the air.
"Oh, what is it, kappa?" asked Gloria.
Again, the kappa didn't answer. He started walking towards to where the two boys were hiding.
"Woah, like, I'm out of here," said Jareth. He jumped up and sped off.
"Jareth?" said Gloria.
Dylan was too busy writing. He looked up just in time to see the kappa standing over him.
The kappa took hold of Dylan's shirt and lifted him up to eye level.
"Dylan?" said Gloria. "Oh my, kappa, no, don't attack him! He's a friend!"
The kappa didn't attack, however. Instead, he sniffed him. He sniffed him for several minutes before his eyes became narrow and he rasped, "Mer... maid..."
"Wha?" asked Dylan.
"What about a mermaid?" asked Gloria.
The kappa dropped Dylan and walked over to the water. He dove in, but was soon up again; this time, carrying something that was green, but not the cucumber that Gloria had thrown. He walked over to Dylan and placed it in his hand. He pointed at the bottle, then pointed at Dylan. "Bot.. tle... Be... long... To... Mer... maid..."
Dylan nodded slowly.
"Dylan, are you okay?" asked Gloria.
Dylan just stared at the bottle. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he said. "Listen, I've got to go now. This bottle could be of scientific value."
"Oh, okay," said Gloria.
Dylan ran off. As soon as he was out of the swamp's forest, Jareth popped up beside him. "So, if Gloria's dating a kappa, would you please start believing in her?" he asked.
"Can't talk now. Have to get to Leia," replied Dylan as he ran off faster than Jareth could ever keep up with.
Soon, Dylan was back in the basement. "Leia! Leia! Look what I have!" he shouted.
Leia swam up to the top of her tank. "Oh, what is it?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," said Dylan, studying the bottle. "A kappa gave it to me and said it belonged to a mermaid."
"Oh, what's in the bottle?" asked Leia.
"I don't know," said Dylan. "Here, let me get a bottle opener."
"Don't bother," said Leia. "Hand it here."
Dylan gave her the bottle.
Leia opened her mouth wide and crunched down on the bottle's neck, cutting it cleanly. She spat out the top and pulled out the note. She gasped.
"Well, what is it?" asked Dylan.
"I-It's from my mom," said Leia.
"What?" asked Dylan.
"My mom. Oh, she must be so worried about me," said Leia. "I mean, that storm just blew me away. I had no time to talk to her or tell her where I am."
"Then you must go to her," said Dylan, stepping close to the massive tank.
"What?" asked Leia.
"You heard me, Leia," said Dylan. "It's no pr-problem. You're completely healed. You should be able to swim fine."
"B-but, Dylan," said Leia. "Th-th-that means I'd have to leave."
"I-I-I kn-n-n-know," said Dylan, tears forming in his eyes. He stomped and stood resolute. "But this is more important. You have to go to your mother, even if it's only for a short time."
"O-okay," said Leia.
Dylan reached into the tank and lifted Leia over his shoulder. "Come on, Leia. We're taking you home," he said as he walked up the stairs.
After much questioning from his parents and Jareth and a short walk to the beach, Dylan sat on the ground. He laid Leia on the sand near the shore. "Here we are," he said.
"Oh, um, thanks, Dylan," said Leia. She turned to the sea and stopped. "Well, before I go, maybe we could watch the sunset. It's been so long since I've seen it."
Dylan smiled. "Sure," he said.
Leia sort of slithered her way next to Dylan. The watched as the sun slowly fell in the sky, changing from gold to red, then from red to violet, then from violet to black.
"It's so beautiful," said Leia.
"Not as beautiful as you," said Dylan
"What?" asked Leia.
Turning a violent shade of scarlet, Dylan said, "Um, uh, I mean... You should probably get going."
Leia looked back at the ocean. "You know, I don't have to leave right now," she said.
Choking slightly, Dylan said, "N-now, Leia, you know that the l-longer you-you stay, the hard-d-der it w-wi-will be for you to l-l-leave." He swallowed back his tears. He took Leia by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. "Now, look, I need you to be strong. Your mother misses you. It wouldn't be fair if you stayed here."
Leia sighed. "You're right. And I miss her, too," said Leia. "But-"
Dylan hugged Leia forcefully. "Now, Leia," he whispered in her ear. "Now's the time. Go. Go to your mother."
After Leia was released from the hug, she looked to the sea. "You're right," she said. She did a sort of half-drag, half-slither action across the beach. "I've gotta go home." She was soon in the water and swimming away. Before she was too far, she turned around and called, "Bye, Dylan! I'll miss you! Don't forget me, okay!"
Dylan waved to her and called back, "Don't worry! This place isn't called Forget-Me-Not Valley for no reason."
With a smile, Leia turned around and swam away.
After watching her leave sight, and a good crying spell, Dylan stood up and walked home.
Oh my, could this be the end of the story?
Nah! Tempting, but no. Otherwise, I know half of you would probably hire assassins and have me hunted down and killed like a dog.
Anyways, last chance for guessing on couples.
Until next time, please review.
