Chapter 12

This was the day, her last day as a mermaid. She had fun at least. But she knew she'd have to visit again to get the old fishtail back for a while. After her morning of playing and exploring with Flounder, Jewel swam back toward the castle. She saw a rowboat anchored next to the jutting rock.

"Oh dad." she sighed swimming up to it. She looked inside and saw her father sleeping, a rum bottle clutched in his hand. Jewel rolled her eyes and leaned into the boat to shake his shoulder.

"Dad, wake up." she said

"Hm, wha?" Jack said, slowly coming to. He looked to his left at his still mermaid daughter. Or at least he assumed she was, considering he couldn't see the rest of her body.

"You still fishy?" he asked

"Yes dad, but not for long." she said

"Why didn't you go human yesterday?" he asked as Jewel started swimming around his boat.

"I was invited to sing last night, and I decided to wait until this morning to go back to human. I just wish I could become a mermaid whenever I want dad," she said, "No worrying about drowning, excellent swimming abilities, we can reach shipwrecks and loot them for what they have." Jack nodded to the profits of being a mermaid.

"But are you forgetting what tomorrow is luv?" he asked

"What?" Jewel stopped and looked up at him.

"The wedding." he replied, "The result of being part of this... Water world, is that you will be missing everything that happens on land."

"Oh right." Jewel said, "Almost forgot about that." She climbed up onto the rock to be at eye level with her father. "Still, I can dream, can't I?"

"Of course you can luv." Jack said, reaching out and messing with Jewel's hair.

"Thanks dad." Jewel said, giggling lightly. Sebastion emerged from the water. He cleared his throat.

"Presenting, his majesty, King Triton." he announced, holding his claw out as the king of Atlantica rose up from the water.

"Is the presentation really necessary?" Jack asked. Jewel stared at him in shock. He smirked and pulled on the red necklace he was wearing.

"Ah." Jewel said

"Are you ready to become human once more?" King Triton asked

"Yes your majesty." Jewel said bowing her head slightly. King Triton surprisingly put a necklace on Jewel. It was an oyster shell with the trident symbol emblazoned on it.

"Show this to the mermaids at White Cap Bay, and they will know who you are. I'm afraid that is all that I can do for your venture." he said

"I don't know what to say... Thank you, sire." Jewel said, bowing to him.

"You helped save my life." he replied

"Mind if I have one of those too?" Jack said. Jewel glanced at him, then with a flick of her tail in the water, splashed water on her father. He sputtered and coughed in surprise. King Triton chuckled as his trident began to glow. The same golden light shined around Jewel as she was lifted in the air. She felt her two legs returning, as well as the feeling of clothes covering her body as she was gently lowered into the boat with her father. When the glowing ceased, Jewel was a human again.

"Thank you so much." Jewel said

"See you at the wedding." Jack said. King Triton nodded then turned around and sank back into the water. As soon as he was out of sight, Jewel punched her father in the arm.

"Ah! What was that for?" he asked

"'See you at the wedding'? Is that how you talk to royalty dad?" she questioned him. Jack chuckled and started rowing back toward the castle.

"It's good to have you back, luv." he said

"It's nice to be back dad. I can wiggle my toes, feeling the wind in my hair and now I can walk again!" she said. But when she set foot on land, she fell flat on the sand. Jack started laughing, and he couldn't stop.

"Dad," she whined

"That's what happens when you spend time as a mermaid luv, you lose your land legs." he said, kneeling down to her. He grabbed one of her arms and lifted her up. She walked with her father supporting her. Jack stared at her puzzled though.

"I think he made you a bit too tall." he commented

"No dad, I'm the same height I was when I was turned into a mermaid." Jewel replied

"Really? You've gotten tall luv." he said. The two walked into the castle. Jack greeted Eric like he was a good friend, surprising Jewel.

"When did that happen?" she asked

"You missed quite a lot, really. And I don't feel the need to explain the happenings." he replied

"That's not fair." Jewel said, "I tell you everything!"

"Aye, darling, but not all the time, as I recall." Jack retorted with a smirk. Jewel grumbled something under her breath.

"Well, you know what else I can do with my legs, daddy dearest?" she asked

"What is it, my gem of the seas?" Jack asked

"This!" Jewel said before slamming a foot down on her father's toes. Jack yelled out in surprise and lost his balance, causing them both to fall. Jewel rolled away from him laughing. She pushed herself up onto her feet, even though her knees were shaky. Jack looked up at her. She bowed to him.

"A thank you." she said with a wide smile.