Hey! I'm back from my vacation but now I'm stuck with a lot of overdue school work. But that doesn't mean I'll forget about you guys and sorry for the late chapter, I was waiting for people to check out my latest chapter because you guys and your reviews motivate me to work and put up new chapters, so can we try a little harder on that? Everyone cool with that? And I would like to thank to firecrackerxx for reviewing my latest chapters, this is for you!
Ok, this chapter is when what happens to Coral. Will she survive or die like sushi? (Why did I just say that? I don't even like sushi)
On with the story...
14. More Than Just A Protector
With the sun setting down on the shore, Old Man Barracuda carried Coral, bride style toward the shore but he struggled with her, he was an old gnome and Coral weighted a ton by her tail, she was feeling weak and dried off. She was losing power by Claudio exposing her to world and for almost hurting her and Juliet knew she had to plan something against him. Soon, she made it to the corner of the beach and climbed on the rocks, looking down at the water.
"It's over here, Old Man Barracuda! Juliet cried, waving her arms in the air, getting his attention.
"Alright, it's time. Mermaid back in water! He shouted as he struggled with the weak Coral in his arms, walking toward the water. He placed her gently into the water; he sat on the rocks next to Juliet. Coral was back into the water but she was losing her strength and felt like she was going to die.
"Mum, mum! Do you feel better? Juliet asked, worried
Coral opened her eyes, trying to breathe. But when she saw her daughter's face, she smiled at her "Yes, Juliet but I'm losing strength, I don't think I can gain it back. Remember what I told you? Coral ask, weak, dangling her head on Juliet's arms.
Juliet was confused at first but then she remembered what would happen if anyone else found out about their secret "Yes, if anyone else saw you, you would... No, mum! I don't want you to die! She pleaded her, almost crying "Plus, not a lot of people saw you and they're not going to believe Claudio anything that he says. Right, Old Man Barracuda? You're not going to tell anybody about this, right? She turned her face to Old Man Barracuda, begging him to not tell.
"Yes, I promise, my dear. Nobody will ever know about this. Like the time that no one knew that once a mermaid saved my life" Old Man Barracuda promised, remembering that years ago, the time when Coral saved him from a storm when he was sailing.
"Juliet, promise me that you will take care of yourself and my granddaughter, give her lots of love like I did with you" Coral sighs as Juliet stroked her face.
"I promise, mum. And from the Claudio that we rescued you from, he is going to pay for what he did to you" Juliet nodded and stroke her face.
"But don't worry about Claudio and his men because I am going to make sure that they get what they deserved. But promise me one thing, Juliet, in your hands the most appreciated marine thing, promise me that you will take care of it" she begged her, trying to breathe.
"Yes, mum. Here, I promised you that I will take care of the star and I'm doing it. Look" Juliet pulled out the star from her blue backpack and showed it to Coral, which made her gasped in relief.
"Oh, what a relief! She gasped softly as she held the star in her hand and looked back at Juliet "Take care of it, Juliet" she smiled, meaning that she's saying goodbye.
"I'm not going to see you again? Juliet asked, with tears in her eyes
"No, not like before. But I'm going to tell you when the right moment comes. But until then, remember one thing, that you will always be my special girl" she finished as she stroke her face and Juliet kissed her cheek and Coral pushed herself with her last strength back into the water. But still feeling weak, Coral float around in the water as she tried to swim away. Juliet started crying, having the thought that her mother was going to die again. There was nothing she could do to help her, except what Coral said, take care of the star and wait until she gets better but Juliet was still worried about her and kept crying.
"Don't cry, my dear. Don't cry, come on let's go" Old Man Barracuda said, and held out his hand for her as Juliet continue to cry.
"I'm going to miss her a lot, she's my best friend" Juliet told her, sobbing
"Come on, my child don't cry. Come on, your friends must be waiting for you" Old Man Barracuda and Juliet got up on their feet and soon left the beach. He held her hand and guides her back to the harbour, to head back home. Juliet picks up her blue backpack and the star as she walked with Old Man Barracuda. She wiped off the tears of her eyes and cheeks and she sighs and letting all the waves of sadness wash away.
Soon Gnomeo and Benny came running in, directly toward her and they notice her frown.
"What happened? Benny asked
"We rescued Coral, she's free" Juliet sighs
"And why are you crying, love? Gnome asked her, putting his hand under her chin but she avoid eye contact.
"Because she told me that I won't see her in a while. I couldn't even tell her about Mimi" Juliet sobs and Gnomeo hugs her and so does Benny.
"Don't worry, Juliet" he pulls away from their embrace "Maybe she just needs some time to get better. But I'm sure that you're going to see her again very soon" he promise her and she smiles at him. Juliet was always lucky to have Gnomeo with her in anything and she knew that he was right but she was still feeling down and she needed to be alone for a while.
"Do you mind if I catch up with you guys later? She asked, wanting to be alone
"You sure? Gnomeo asked and she nods her head
"Don't worry, my boy. I'll keep an eye on her" Old Man Barracuda chuckles and Juliet smiles at him. Just like always he has been there to watch out for her and protect her.
Gnomeo kisses Juliet on her cheek and he heads back home with Benny, that pretty sure he was going to yell at him for spying on him and finding out about Juliet and Coral, but on top of that he was grateful for helping out.
After Gnomeo and Benny left, Juliet got to Port Hope and sits down on the edge of the harbour, dangling her legs and she looked down at her reflection in the water. Feeling worried about her mother, frowning. A lot of questions went through her head about what would or was going to happen to her. But they were soon interrupted when she heard Don Claudio and his men, coming her way and yelling and arguing when they found out that Coral escaped or somebody let her go. Continuing to run down the beach, Old Man Barracuda guided Juliet out of his sight and back to the beach so she wouldn't be recognized and capture her.
"Hurry, my child. You must go now" he told her as he held her hand and they ran to Hidden beach where they were with Coral.
Claudio and his men were right behind them and were getting closer, Juliet began to worry. She got into the water with her star fish and blue backpack on her back and dove into the water as her tail appeared. She came out of the water, with the water up to her shoulders and she swam cautiously toward Old Man Barracuda, as he stepped into the water. Juliet was always grateful to him and she loved him more than just her protector, he was like the grandfather she never had in a long time, and he was always there to take care of her and Coral. And he always entertained her with his fireplace storytelling of legends and pirate stories every night. He has been a very good friend and Juliet loves him like a grandfather and she will always be thankful to him.
She swam closer to him "Thank you for everything, Old Man Barracuda. I don't know what I do without you" she smiled at him and hugged him tight.
"You know that you're like a daughter to me, little Juliet. Always filling my life with happiness and joy, even since when you were a little girl. So if you ever need my help, I'll be there for you. And don't worry about your mother, child, I'm sure she'll be fine and if I see her around these water, I tell you immediately" he promises her which made Juliet smiled while he hug. Soon the yelling and screaming was getting louder and closer, Juliet saw Don Claudio at the harbour and she had to leave or he'll discover her.
"Swim, my dear, go" he whispered her, cupping her face in his hands
"Goodbye, Old Man Barracuda, I'll see you soon" then she gave him a kiss on his cheek and a quick hug.
And she dove into the water and with her supersonic speed as Old Man Barracuda ran in another direction, as he watched Juliet leave and thankfully, Claudio never saw her. Juliet hurried to get away from him, she was going to get revenge on him for almost killing her mother but it was until she got better and the cost was clear. But she had faith that she will be fine, her mother was a powerful mermaid, even more powerful than Juliet and she knew a lot of secrets and magic from the ocean and its seas.
Soon Juliet made it back to the big pipe that lead to the pond of the Red garden. First, she poked half her head out of the water to make sure nobody was around, and the cost was clear because it almost night time and everybody was already inside the shed by the pretty pink sky and orange clouds. Juliet pulled herself up the edge and watched her tail disappeared without the star around her neck and put the star in her back pocket. When she got dressed, she ran home to her husband and her daughter, who were probably waiting for her and wondering where she was. Juliet was a bit disappointed that she never got to tell Coral about Mimi but this wasn't the time for that, all she could do is wait until her mum gets better and she would have her chance to introduce her daughter to her grandmother. The sun was setting down, Juliet grabbed her clothes and puts her blue backpack on her back and ran home. But she didn't noticed that the magical star fell out of her pocket and laid there on the ground, next to the pond, Not knowing she left the powerful star out of her sight and unprotected.
Uh oh! That can't be good. Well, like I said in the top, the more reviews I get the more sooner I put up the next chapter. And I like the suggestion u guys put in them, they make me laugh and inspire me.
I'll see you in the next chapter; I can smell the tension coming really close..! (Hint, hint, wink, wink) Bye! (: