Under the Sea
The water was cold.
And very wet
Sora, felt his entire body shake up as he found himself surrounded by it. At first he struggled to rise yet he couldn't move. He was used to swimming but not staying underwater for longer periods of time, preferring being at the shallow end of the beach . The longer he remained under water though his body quickly adjusted, calming down. He could feel no ground beneath his feet, in fact he couldn't feel his feat at all. There wasn't even a normal sense of gravity anymore.
"Sora! Sora! Open your eyes!" Donald yelled.
Sora stopped hearing the sound of his friends, and realized that he was not alone. Taking a moment, he realized that he was able to breath. Not only that, but the water was not stinging his eyes. In fact, he could see just normally as if he was on land. Slowly he looked down to wear his legs were and saw a blue silver tail sticking out.
He gasped and swam back. "W-What happened!"
Suddenly he saw Donald swim over towards him, his lower body transformed into a blue looking octopus. Goofy was by his side, most of his body has morphed into a sea turtle, apart from his head which was still the same. He looked trying to piece together just what had happen. He found himself in the middle of a coral casam, a few bit of seaweed sticking out. Bubbles floated above him, and sea life could be seen swimming around the area, living in peace with one another.
"Look at us Sora, we can swim...Pretty neat huh." Goofy said as he did a twirl onto his back. "Surprised your hair is sticking up still though."
"That's my magic for yuh." Donald snickered. "Keeps even the most oddly spikey hair up and dry."
"Woah-I feel funny.!" Sora looked down back at has tale, and then saw that he wasn't wearing any clothes. Quickly he covered himself putting both hands around his chest, covering his nipples. "This is so embarrassing ...What happened to my clothes...My pampu fruit!"
"Come on Sora, we have to protect the world order." Donald explained. "You're clothes and magical fruit are probably back on the Gummi Ship or something, don't worry the magic will reverse itself when we leave."
"I hope so." Sora muttered looking back at his tale. "Because right now I feel very, very, very awkward, I'm not used to not having legs."
Slowly a tiny bubble rose up as Jiminy Cricket appeared. "Gosh what a sight."
"We have needed to disguise yourself again, just like in Halloween Town." Donald explained looking at one of his tentacles.
"So I'm a mermaid then?" Sora still felt freaked out by his tail as it swivelled around without much control from him. "Wonder how I swim in this place."
"Merman." Goofy corrected. "Or Merperson, if you wish."
"Sure fine, point is I got a fish tail and it's weird!" Sora grew a annoyed expression. "I don't even know how to swim. Like do I kick it do I- "
"Didn't you grow up on a Island?" Goofy asked. "Shouldn't you know how to swim already?"
"Yes but I didn't swim always, and not completely underwater, I preferred the shallow end near the beach. Mom said it was safer that way."
"Suuuure." Donald groaned, rolling his eyes. "Now come on, we should head out before…"
"Hurry up Ariel!" Came a child sounding voice from the distance, sounding panicky.
Donald sighed. "Aw phooey, here we go."
Sora looked up near the narrow valley to see a tiny golden fish swim as fast as it could, looking scared and terrified followed by a red crab and shockingly a mermaid. Red hair, lovely green fin and young looking face, she and the others swam away right past them as fast as they could as they were being chased the Heartless who took on the background of the sea looking like mutated fish with green coral like skin.
"Heartless!" Sora shouted his Key taking place at once. "Come on guys, show time!"
Immediately Sora, Donald and Goofy clumsily tried to take on the Heartless. It was a hard battle, the lack of ability to swim made it difficult for Sora and the others to better attack their enemies. The Heartless for there part were far better swimmers and were faster and more intense able to avoid Sora's strikes with the Keyblade, Donald however was able to use his magic and strike them down. Goofy's shell made for a good shield especially when he hit the back of the rocks.
"Careful Goofy!" Donald shouted as he fired a round of fire at them, shocked it was actually being able to fire. "Sora to your left.
Sora dodged a Heartless with a spear. "Yikes!"
Before the Heartless attacked again, the red headed mermaid came and managed to strike the Heartless with her tail slapping it up against the rock and knocking it down with quick speed causing the water to rupture around them. Sora taking the initiative swam down if clumsy and struck with it's Key releasing the Heart inside.
Finally all the Heartless was gone leaving the locals looking at Sora and the others with a mixture of confusion and maybe a tinge of fear.
Eventually things began to calm down as they always did after another Heartless attack. Though Sora and his friends were now exhausted, Sora feeling sweat even if they were underwater-though that might just be his imagination playing tricks on him. Not every day a boy wielding a key appeared before them and knew how to fight the strange creatures.
"Uh….Hi." Sora said, giving them both a polite yet awkward smile.
The girl swam around them now looking more curious then concerned at them. "Hi." She said. "I've never seen you here before."
Sora looked to Donald who gave him a stern look. "We are um...Not from around here."
"Another ocean then?" The girl beamed looking astonished. "How fascinating. I'm Ariel."
"Sora."
"Donald Duck!"
"Names Goofy."
"I-I'm Flounder." The little yellow and blue striped fish said, as she continued to hide behind his friend.
Suddenly from behind one of the rocks a red crab swam up to them as he had a massive frown on his face and spoke with a thick accent. "Ariel what do you think you are doing?"
"Sebastian." Ariel sighed looking at the Red crab. "We just got attacked let us relax a little."
"We need to get back to the palace or your father will be blow his lid. Those creatures are everywhere it seems, hopefully everyone else has been safe".
Sora watched as the two bickered with one another and wondered just who this Ariel was. Was she some sort of princess, perhaps there was more to this world than just fish and water. Either way it seemed that the Krab was most likely her babysitter, though Sora felt she was a bit old to have one. Although he was fourteen and Donald and Goofy at some points had to babysit him. Heck even back home Riku and Kairi always seemed to be do that when he was practically a baby. A sign that age didn't mean much in maturity.
"What about those creatures." The yellow fish swam up now still looking scared. "What if they attack again.
"Oh don't worry flounder, maybe they can help us." Ariel said pointing to Sora and the others. "I know we just met but we could use all the help we could get, this isn't the first time we've seen whatever they are."
"Excuse me!" Sebastian the Crab swam up. "I will be the judge of that-I am the King's royal advisor after all. It is my job to ensure that any and all people who see da king- even outsiders like you are properly vetted."
"Ok." Sora said with confusion.
"What do you wanna know?" Goofy asked.
Sebastian scratched his chin. "For started what do you know of those creatures."
"Of course." Sora took a moment to calm his nerves. "Those are Heartless, we've dealt with them many times already…..Why do I feel like I'm on repeat at this point."
Ariel looked at Sebastian then smiled back at Sora. "Interesting, my father had some outsiders here too who mentioned them."
"Outsiders, what kind of outsiders?" Sora asked wondering..
"They are at the palace, I can take you there if you want." Ariel said.
"What no! I said I needed to-"
Ariel stopped him before he continued. "Oh don't listen to him, come on it'll be fun."
"Ariel your father will-"
"Oh Daddy will be fine." Ariel brushed him aside. "So do you wanna come?"
"Uh….Great." Sora laughed nervous, afraid of what he was getting himself into. "Just-great-more of this….Just what we need."
"Come on." Ariel swam off. "Follow me everyone!"
Sora tried to follow shaking his tale and trying to get a handle of how to swim. He felt a bit unbalanced until he headed straight forward but didn't know how to turn running straight into one of the coral rocks hitting it flat faced. His face felt squished against the hard surface as he let out a loud groan. His nose was now all crinkled taking a while to straighten out.
"Ouch." He muttered rubbing his forehead. "That's smarts."
"Are you ok?" Ariel ask swimming up to him. "You don't seem to have your sea tail."
Sora struggled to free his face from his rock "Y-Yeah...I'm fine….Just uh…"
"The seas are a hard to swim in. Not as sturdy as we prefer." Goofy interjected.
Ariel nodded. "Ah….Well, you just need to get your tail strait and go with the flow, like this."
She demonstrated by moving her own tail and managing to swim naturally across the ocean current. Sora watched wondering how she did with such natural instinct. He tried it himself slowly getting the hang of it as he moved slowly with the water, trying his best to not go super fast or super slow.
"See, your getting the hang of it." Ariel beamed.
Sora kept swimming around slowly managing to get his sea legs so to speak. "Yeah...Yeah I am...Woo, this is kinda fun."
"Such strange mermaids you are." Sebastian muttered under his breath.
"Cool, come on, I'll take you to see my father, he might know more about these Heartless you are looking for."
"Thanks. So your dad lives in a palace?" Goofy asked.
Sebastian intervened. "Yes, King Triton! Ruler of the Sea, supreme leader of all the oceans, holder of the great trident of-."
"Yeah, yeah yeah." Ariel groaned. "It's just daddy Sebastian, you don't have to be so dramatic. Just be yourself Sora-I'm sure he'll listen."
"Yeah, myself…" Sora tensed up even more. "Sora the Keyblade Master-that can't go wrong at all."
-000-
Sora and the others followed Ariel and her friends towards this supposed undersea palace. Sora tried his best to keep up, still not completely used to his tail and ability to breath underwater. But as he looked around, he saw just how beautiful the undersea could be. The various fish that floated all over the place. The sea plants that grew on the ground, and the colorful patterns of coral that surrounded everything. It seemed like a underwater civilization similar to the tales of Atlantis he heard back home. Although according to Ariel this place was called Atlantica, similar but not the same.
As they swam Sora once again saw the pattern, meeting people, going off into the world, and probably soon going to have to help someone in need. These episodic adventures of him were the reason he started to wonder if they would ever find the King. The more he thought the more he wondered just how much true progress they were making.
Looking around though, he did know that whenever he entered a new world, he was still amazed by the newness and wonder of it all. That was something that would never die no matter how many places they would visit.
"You're home is beautiful." Sora commented as they swam along the coral reef."
Ariel nodded. "Thank you, the ocean is quite vast."
From his bubble Jiminy was able to get as much of the detail as possible, worried that his journal was about to get wet. "A whole world of just water-fascinating."
"What was that?" Ariel asked.
Donald hushed Jimminy. "Oh he's just not used to ocean like these are our kinda dull."
When he was younger Sora was scared of what was under the sea. Riku would tell him tale of giant monsters that would gobble up kids who swam into the deep end of the ocean. Hence why he didn't like to swim in the ocean unless it was near the shallow end. But seeing this beauty and peace. Perhaps he had everything wrong. This sea seemed quite lovely and the fish seemed rather friendly, many of them waving to him as they passed by.
"So what ocean do you come from." Ariel asked as they swam through a underground casam.
Sora gulped. "Uh…..Very, very far away ocean." He paused thinking of a good name. "Yep, very far….Destiny ocean yeah."
It wasn't necessarily a lie per say. The Island ocean was known as Destiny Island in line with Destiny Town and Destiny Island. The more Sora thought about the more he realized his home was connected to the word Destiny quite a bit. Probably because the Islanders believe that the ocean was a road to the unknown, sailors would let the tides control them whether than control it. Sora supposed he wasn't a good Islander though considering he couldn't even get on his raft when he tried going on his first voyage.
"Fascinating, never heard of that one before"
"It's very far away." Sora lied as he chuckled nervously. "Like very, very far away….The fact we came here at all is amazing, heh, heh…..
"Nice for being subtle." Donald muttered
"I've never been able to leave this part of the sea myself. Though I've always wanted to visit others places."
"Yeah, I know the feeling." Sora sighed
"I mean exploring all the new worlds and seeing all the new things...Who wants to stay here all the day."
Sora laughed awkwardly, she sounded just like him and Riku before all this madness happened. Part of him wanted to tell her about being happy for what you have and enjoying things with loved ones, but he felt it wasn't his place. They had just met after all, and her enjoyment of seeing the outside world seemed genuine for the most part. After all not so long ago Sora himself felt the same way, part of him still enjoyed seeing the world around him. Yet with all the bad that happened, it definitely had been poisoning the experience as time passed.
"So how far till we find the palace?" Donald asked, his tentacles becoming exhausted. "How do you swim in these things."
"We're almost there, you guys must have been on a long journey if you are already getting this tired." Ariel chuckled. "I'm sure father will let you rest once we get there, he's quite welcoming."
"Yeah, welcoming." Sebastian muttered under his breath. "Like a shark is to someone entering there cave."
Finally in the distance there it stood, the grand palace of Atlantica. A golden citadel to the undersea civilization. Sora revealed at just how magicient this place was. It looked like something out of a fairy tale, several mermaids were swimming around the place, a few of them in suits of armor, most likely the guards of the place How could something be under the water yet manage to stand tall like any grand structure was beyond him. Yet here it was in all its glory. The sight was something quite amazing to behold
"Your highness." They saluted as Ariel passed them.
Sora, Donald and Goofy gave him as well a small salute.
Ariel rolled her eyes as she lead them down the grand open areas until they appeared near the grand palace throne room.
"Throne room is this way." Ariel pointed out.
Sebastian then stopped them swimming in front of all of them. "Now hold on, we shouldn't just barge in on the king, he could be doing very important kingly business."
"Oh Sebastian, I'm sure he won't mind seeing us."
"Ariel I-" She swam off before Sebastian could finish, Sora Donald and Goofy just stood there unsure what to do. "Go ahead."
Sora quickly swam off following behind.
Eventually the trio entered into a large open are with a single throne standing on top a mighty hill in the center of the room. Sitting on it was a elderly man of great strength and stature, long white beard spiky coral gold crown, carrying a mighty trident with three spikes sticking up. King Triton, ruler of the sea and of all Atlantica. One of the most powerful beings in this world, he was wise as he was ancient. A firm ruler, yet a benevolent one.
Sora looked at him and tensed up instantly, he could feel the power of this man just by looking at him. A sense of fear coming through him, knowing that he was not this man equal in any regard even with his Keyblade.
"It's ok, Sora." Goofy said seeing noticing his fear.
Sora took a deep breath. "Yeah, ok."
They swam into the room Ariel swimming the fastest, until from the corner a familiar sounding voice called from the distance, Sora became shocked to see two familiar, although transformed faces swimming next to him now, both looking quite excited to see him again.
"Star! Marco!" Sora said in disbelief as the two swam over to him and gave him a wide hug. "Guys what are you doing here? I thought you were in Traverse Town-Wait did Toffee do something that got you kicked out!"
Star blinked. "What, oh nononono...We are on super secret mission for Leon...Plus look wer are Merpeople! Isn't that awesome."
"Yeah if you like feeling indecent." Marco muttered covering himself. "I mean come on people cant see my nipples, at least Star and the mermaids get to wear a braw, even if it is made of seashells."
Star adjusted her seashell bra. "Hey! It's very uncomfy I don't know how the locals do it ok!"
Sora grimace and blushed putting his hands over his own chest, trying not to think of Kairi if she was wearing one of those. As he saw Star and Marco he couldn't help but notice that something felt off, Star didn't seem to be one hundred percent perky as she was when they had first met. He would have to ask when they had the time.
"Sora you ok? Your cheeks are read." Goofy asked.
"I'm fine!" Sora yelled turning back to Star. "A mission for Leon?"
"We're looking for more allies" Star explained, "Heartless are spreading even more now, even Traverse Town has seen a bit of increase of them, we need help"
"Oh...Like who?"
"That would be me." The large man in the chair said as he stood up, his commanding voice sending a shiver down Sora's spine and gaining the attention of everyone in the room. "I am King Triton, and who might you be young man… Don't tell me Leon and his resistance have now resorted to just children in there ranks."
"Uh….." Sora's mind went completely blank being intimidate by a man of such authority. "Me, yes I-I-I-am uh...Oh boy."
"Oh this is Sora, he's the Keyblade Master we told you about." Star explained. "Actually glad you are here, we are trying to get King Triton to join….
"The answer is no!" He barked loudly his voice booming throughout the ocean. "And that is final, their will be no argument."
Ariel looked confused. "Daddy, what's going on."
"None of your concern Ariel, these people were just leaving, and hopefully never coming back."
"Daddy! We just met them!" Ariel groaned swimming up to her father. "They helped me against those creatures we've been seeing and they don't seem like trouble and…"
"Ariel, not another word!" Triton shouted as he sat back down.
"What! Oh come on, we haven't even showed you the powerpoint slide I made." Marco explained pulling out a floppy drive. "I had it all nice and organized and everything-it was very persuasive."
Star groaned. "Uh Marco, that wouldn't have worked anyway...we are underwater remembered."
"Yeah but….
Star glared at him.
"Ok fine." Marco folded his arms in a huff.
"Daddy, these people are not from the same ocean, we should at least help them find whatever it is they came here for…..
"Again Ariel none of your concern, they are strangers and I have no tolerance for unknowns in my land! Now please ...Everyone leave!" His voice echoed so soundly it should the water.
Ariel huffed out Sora quickly following suite along with the others, he took one more look at the king who seemed have a annoyed glint in his eye before swimming out wondering what had this King Triton so furious.
Sora wanted to know yet did not dare anger what seemed to be such a powerful individual like the King. His suspicious nature of them was not completely uncalled for, they were from another world, and he hadn't had to deal with the fact that maybe some people just didn't like outsiders entering their lands, after all the Heartless came and didn't always give the first best impression from someone else entering there world. Yet Sora meant them no ill will and a lot of people they met knew of the legend of the Keyblade Master, however if Phil was anything to go by Keyblade Masters weren't always considered in the best light, perhaps this was another one who saw the Keyblade wielders negatively.
As they swam out only Sebastian stayed behind, the last thing Sora saw was the two of them conversing about something. Once outside the group regathered to figure out what was going on. Again Sora noticed that Star seemed a bit off from normal, she was smiling but it part of it seemed a bit forced than normal.
"So you want my father for something?" Ariel asked Star and Marco right out the gate. "What is it? Are you from the outside world.
They both gave each other glances.
"You can tell her." Sora said giving them both a nod.
Marco took a deep breath. "Ok, we want your father to help us with the Anti-Heartless resistance. Merlin says he knows Triton and could be a good help to us."
"Anti-Heartless resistance, what's that?" Ariel asked sounding more curious than nervous.
"Those creatures you said chased you earlier...The Heartless? My friends here have been fighting them from Traverse Town while I've been fighting them using this." Sora held out his hand but nothing happened…."Using this!...Using this!...Using….
"It still doesn't work for you doesn't it?" Marco asked.
"Yeah it doesn't...Well It's called a Keyblade and….
"There goes the world border." Donald sighed.
Goofy chuckled. "Gee we aren't so good at this aren't we."
"Sorry if my father can be stubborn, even if I don't really understand. But I know what he's doing is wrong. I can feel it." Ariel said.
"Didn't even get to do my powerpoint." Marco muttered.
Star rolled her eyes. "Anyway, he would have been helpful but what can we do."
"Hey how is Traverse Town?" Sora asked Star.
"Fine, been keeping my eye on Toffee, he's been suspiciously quiet."
"But we got our eye on him!" Marco added giving a eye. "Or did, till we came here...and now I feel incident."
"Indecent?" Ariel asked looking confused. "This is how all mermen look, you are fine."
"No! I am pretty much na-" Star punched Marco stomach before he could finish.
"Shut up you are fine! Besides I get to see your skinny tummy...man you are all ski and bones….eh heh…..Anyway! Point is we hope your dad will help us but he's being a big jerk about it...any suggestions."
Sora pondered on the notion for a moment before realizing something. "If we could look for your worlds Keyhole. Maybe showing that will make your father understand that he should fight the Heartless."
"A keyhole?" Ariel asked.
"Yeah, the Heartless are looking for one. If the Heartless find it first then….." He paused to see Star and Marco's expression grimace. "Well bad thing will happen."
"I don't want that." Ariel face turned to one of concern. "Maybe there is something in my grotto that can help you. Follow me!"
Ariel swam off. Sora looked towards the others to get a sense of what to do, but all they could give in return was a shrug. Sora followed her quickly, wondering just what this Grotto would hold.
The trip there wasn't that far, it was down near the edge of a large underground cliff hidden behind a large rock. Ariel needed help moving it revealing the entrance to the underground grotto. Once inside everyone saw the large collection of items completely stacked on makeshift shells that was just the formation of the rock.
"This is all junk." Marco snorted. "I mean come on who needs a spoon."
Ariel scoffed. "It's not junk, it's strange and magical items that I've collected from the service."
"A broke down coco clock….Yeah it's junk." Marco said giving her a deadpan expression.
"That's a tick-tock." Ariel corrected. "My friend scuttle told me."
"Who's Scuttle?" Sora asked.
"A seagal, he knows all sorts of things about the surface like what a dinglehopper is to a warkworth to a ….
"That's a fork and a spoon." Marco muttered
Star punched him in the chest. "Well I think they are awesome!"
"Ariel been collecting this stuff for years." Flounder explained as he floated around Sora. "All of it from the surface world."
Sora just chuckled as he looked at Ariel vast collection. This underground grotto reminded him of the secret place back on the Island. He thought back to all the various pictures that he and the other kids used to draw on the walls. The last thing he ever drew was that of him and Kairi sharing a Pampu fruit with one another, that was the day he met the stranger in the hood. He couldn't help but admire all these trinkets, to her these were her treasures and he could respect that.
As he kept on looking he noticed a tiny blue shell stuck to one of the rocks, inside it was the symbol of Triton on it. Closely Sora looked at it getting a sense that it was more than just a random rock.
"Hey what's this?" Sora asked.
Ariel swamp up to get a better look herself. "Hmm….I don't know, but I bet something goes into that rock."
"It looks like your father's trident."
"Yeah…..I think it's from the outside world."
"Really?"
Ariel nodded. "Yes, like I said, i want to seem, and all the strange and unique things that lie beyond. That doesn't sound strange to you does it….Sorry if I keep talking about it alot."
"No, no….Not at all." Sora blushed. "I get it, seeing new places can be very exciting, nothing wrong about wanting to go to places."
"Yeah, I should know, when I got to go to Marco's world it was the best thing ever!" Star exclaimed as she floated around. "I learned all about Nacho's and Cell Phone rings."
"And I learned about monsters and magic…..Man i miss my quiet life sometimes." Marco sighed.
"No you don't." Star chided.
"Hey, I have a idea, I think I know were we could maybe look for information on that Keyhole?" Ariel said.
"Where?" Sora asked.
"Follow me!" Ariel swam off making everyone catch up.
Ariel swam off Sora stopped Marco in his tracks pulling him back. "Hey can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Yeah, what's up."
"Is something wrong with Star?" Sora asked watching her swim close to Ariel. "She seems-off.
Marco grimaced and took a deep sigh, holding back what seemed to be a big secret. "Look I shouldn't say, she's tough, but I know she's hurting because her world got taken by the Heartless. Her mom, her family, everything."
Sora nodded. "I understand, believe me I do."
"Also I didn't her mom too much but uh-if King Triton is anything to go by she too was a bit of stickler, probably seeing something similar go on probably isn't helping ease her mind."
"Huh-" Sora just pondered it for a while. "Well, let's just focus on finding the Keyhole, sooner we stop the Heartless the sooner everyone can go home."
"Right."