Just a head's up as this chapter centers around Urchin as we go just a tiny bit deeper into how he discovered his feelings for the infamous princess. We also get to say hi to an old friend in this chapter and another in the next.

Chapter 15 is on the way! And hope Christmas was great for you guys!

Chapter 14

Even though Ariel had left only a few hours earlier, Urchin was still sitting at the palace gates. Flounder was floating near him, wondering why the merboy was so quiet. Urchin himself wasn't sad or disappointed that his closest friend was now gone and on her way to another kingdom, but was glad and internally trying to hide the fact that he felt like he was jumping over the surface waves in joy. Ariel had told him she felt the same way he felt about her. He wasn't going to let anything ruin the fact that they would most likely be a couple when she returned in one month.

The merboy's head perked up when his name was called. Flounder turned in the same direction to find Apollo riding his dragon toward them.

"Flounder! Urchin!" the Atlantican hero greeted. "It's good to see you both."

Flounder smiled. "Hi Apollo! Ariel already left for Lerdois. She'll be back in a month."

Apollo froze when he heard this. "Lerdois?" he repeated to make sure he heard it right.

Urchin nodded. "For a peace treaty with the prince," the merteen answered.

The adventurous merman looked at the two in front of him, eyeing their features. "I just came from Lerdois, Prince Tsunami did say he was expecting a specific young merlady to see him about a very important matter. But he did not mention a peace treaty in any way."

Urchin and Flounder exchanged confused glances. Apollo was rubbing his chin in thought, wondering why the sea king would send his youngest daughter on a diplomatic mission such as this instead of going himself.

"He did say he wanted Ariel to go because she had more experience with other kingdoms and, um, creatures. I think," the guppy said, trying to remember what Triton had said.

Urchin saw his friend struggling. "In other kingdoms and foiling evil plans," the merboy said with a lopsided grin as he thought about when he aided her in saving Flounder when he became the Howling Hairfish and when they stopped Evil Manta, for the umpteenth time.

Apollo noticed the goofy grin on Urchin's features, grinning slyly at him. "I believe someone sees her as more than just friend, hm?" he inquired mischievously.

Urchin snapped back to his sense when he heard the middle-aged merman. He rubbed his arm awkwardly, stuttering to speak as Sebastian came swimming out.

"Ah, Apollo. Da king was not expecting you til next week," the crab explained.

"I know," the hero chuckled. "I finished handling the sharks in the Pacific and thought I would visit early. But I heard from a few friends just now that Ariel is in another kingdom for the next month. Was there something I missed this week?"

The crab chuckled. "His Majesty will explain when you see him."

Apollo's dragon growled impatiently.

"Easy Typhoon," the hero said, patting the sea serpent's neck and looking at the crab. "Tell him I will see him in a few moments." Sebastian hurried to relay the message as Apollo turned to Urchin and Flounder. "Can you both watch Typhoon while I speak with the king?"

Urchin's eyes lit up while Flounder hid behind the merboy. "Definitely!"

Apollo smiled. "Thank you. He shouldn't be much trouble," the merman stated as he passed the reigns to Urchin's awaiting hands. "It shouldn't take long." With that, Apollo swam to the throne room to speak with the king.

Flounder cautiously swam out from behind Urchin, staring up at the great, and formerly feared, serpent. "Great. We're taking care of a creature that still strikes fear into the little guy," the guppy commented shakily.

His merboy friend laughed, rubbing the dragon's neck affectionately. "It's only for a little while. Besides, I think it's cool that he's letting us watch him."

"How is it cool?" Flounder asked accusingly, glaring at the merboy floating next to him.

"Because Typhoon is the creature that gets to fight by Apollo's side every day! It's really awesome that he's letting us watch him while he's with the king."

The guppy stared quizzically at his friend, seeing him slightly distracted. "You don't seem to be thinking about Typhoon right now."

Urchin became confused. "How do you mean?"

Flounder shrugged. "Ariel was more than happy when she saw you this morning. But she was more depressed when you hugged her than when I did."

The merboy shifted uncomfortably as he continued to pet the serpent. "That doesn't mean anything."

"I think you feel different about her now," the guppy implied. "The way you always talk about her and her adventures, when you exaggerate saving us from danger, how you always light up when you hear her name."

Urchin tried to ignore the fish as much as he could, failing miserably. Flounder had hit the tip of the iceberg of his feelings for the young princess. His heart had been aching since she had departed on that chariot only hours earlier. Despite his glad expression, Urchin knew that even that one kiss she gave him could decide their future when she returned. Flounder waited silently for the merboy to speak, not knowing about the churning feelings inside his friend's heart.

"You don't know what's like to feel like this Flounder," the merteen finally said. "Being in love is the most amazing feeling in your life. When I first saw Ariel those three years ago, I thought she was the most beautiful creature under the sea. Nothing compared to her beauty, not even the brightest glow shell in Shark Canyon could outshine her." A loving smile crawled onto his lips. "She was the toughest mermaid I had ever met." He suddenly frowned a bit. "Until last year, my feelings were, well, confusing. When Thor was mentioned the first time, I thought there was an arranged marriage from what Sebastian said. Then the misunderstanding started the war as the Sharkanians attacked. Thor and Ariel were in the distance and I thought I would never see her again." Urchin took a shaky breath. "I thought that she would leave forever. When I got hurt, and woke to see her, I was overjoyed to see her. She was staying and I knew my feelings for sure then, whether or not I had the courage to tell her."

"You really do like her?" Flounder asked.

Urchin nodded.

The guppy smiled. "I'd rather see her with you instead of some random prince we've never seen before or barely met."

The merboy grinned as he looked at his friend. "That means a lot Flounder," he said as he ruffled the flimsy blue dorsal fin.

A deep, cautious growl caught their attention. Both looked at the dragon, seeing him with a smile.

Urchin laughed. "Let's hope he can take a secret."