Welcome to Atlantica

Sunday November 5th, morning

"Ariel!"

Quasimodo called out, causing Ariel to pause. She looked behind, saddened to see Quasimodo drifting farther behind her. She turned, swimming back to him.

She grasped his hands, drawing him closer to the surface where there was more light.

"You can do this."

Quasimodo looked around, at the endless blue. Below him, the water turned an ever-deepening shade of blue.

"I can't even see where we're going." Quasimodo paused, looking around him once in an upright position."Where are we going?"

"To Archimedes'. Then, to the palace. We're halfway there."

Quasimodo looked to his fin. It burned with exhaustion. Every part of him hurt. He felt like he had when first ringing the bells on his own. Concentrating, he moved his fin through the water, forcing himself to swim.

"Try not to use your arms. Let the water guide you." Ariel moved her tail, seemingly without effort, darting forward a few metres. "Work with the current, not against it."

Quasimodo forced himself forward, his pace slow. Ariel remained next to him, pressing him on.

"Archimedes is fascinated with humans. He used to study them, before the ban."

"This is why we're going there first?"

"That, and to rest." Ariel squeezed his arm, pulling him with her as she swam. "We're losing the light."

He felt his hair move back, over his shoulders and hunch. He struggled to look forward, instead he looked mostly toward the ocean floor, into the deep, dark, never-ending blue and black. He forced his tired body and fins to move, whilst being dragged like a sack of oats by Ariel.

Quasimodo turned over in the water and looked up, noting the water was getting darker. The sun, appearing as a series of orange and red ripples, was approaching the western horizon.

"You're doing well." Ariel encouraged. "Keep at it."


"There it is." Ariel pointed to a sunken ship on the edge of a cliff. Yellow light poured out from between pillars and domes of cobwebbed stone, built into the ships fractured hull.

Quasimodo sighed with relief as they entered the empty home.

"You should rest. I'll find Archimedes."

Quasimodo immediately let himself sink to the floor, stretching his fin and letting his arms fall to his side.

"Ariel?"

"Archimedes!" Ariel rushed toward the entrance, embracing a elderly, white-haired merman. His purple tail nearly brushed against Quasimodo's nose.

Quasimodo pushed himself from the floor, holding himself next to Ariel.

"Who is your friend?" Archimedes paused, looking to Quasimodo. "And you are... a human?"

"How did you know?" Ariels eyes grew wide.

"He's wearing a shift talisman. I've not seen one in ages, I thought they were all destroyed." Archimedes extended his arm to Quasimodo, grasping his elbow firmly. "Nice to meet you. I'm Archimedes, as Ariel has likely told you. And you are?"

"Quasimodo." He lowered his chin, looking up at Archimedes.

"That's a... oh my." Archimedes shook his head. "Anyhow... welcome to my home. Those are my books, my collection of things. You would know what many of them are, I suppose."

"Ariel, you can't bring him to the palace with you." Archimedes turned to Quasimodo. "King Triton won't let you into the palace. If he does, I'd hate to think what would happen."

"We can hide the necklace." Ariel looked to Quasimodo, who was gently passing a finger over the shell.

"It's still obvious." Archimedes looked to Ariel, then Quasimodo. "Son, you can't hide what you are. You're welcome here, but as for the palace, I'm not sure that's wise."

Quasimodo looked to his crooked tail, then back to Archimedes.

"You should go home, Ariel. Your family will be looking for you. Quasi... your friend may stay here." Archimedes looked to Quasimodo, bearing a worried expression. "You don't look like you can swim much farther. Rest here for the night."

"I will be back in the morning." Ariel nodded. "First thing."

Ariel grasped Quasimodo's right hand, pulling it away from the shell. She smiled at him.

"I will see you tomorrow. We'll figure it out."

Ariel's hands drifted away from his palm, leaving Quasimodo's hand floating for a moment. He watched as she disappeared into the deep blue.

"You knew I was human, in an instant." Quasimodo sighed, before turning to face Archimedes.

"Your way of moving, your posture, your cropped hair. It betrays you." Archimedes stated flatly. "I doubt that you may speak Atlantean or to fish, either."

"I can't change my posture."

"You carry yourself as if you're scared of your own skin. No merman carries such fear in him."

"What will happen?" Quasimodo wrung his hands.

"Of that, I am uncertain. King Triton will know what you are the moment he sees you, and won't like it one bit. You'd best steer clear of the palace."

"I will." Quasimodo nodded, feeling a chill move through him.

"How did you manage to meet Ariel, anyhow? You're clearly not an explorer."

"She saved me." Quasimodo looked back out into the open ocean for a moment before looking back at Archimedes. He motioned to his bent, tired fins. "This, it is not what I expected. What if this is all a dream? What if I'm still on an island, or in Notre Dame? If this is truly happening, why did she even bother to save someone like me?"

"She saw something in you, I suppose." Archimedes waved his hand, directing Quasimodo toward his desk. "Or, maybe you're simply lucky?"

Quasimodo laughed.

"Your name, it means what I think it means?"

Quasimodo nodded.

"Where I'm from.." Quasimodo looked to the open book. "...the way I look... it frightened people. Why do neither you, nor Ariel look away?"

"There is no one for Ariel to compare you to. Myself, I'm old. I've studied humans my entire life. Younglings with features like yours occasionally appear in the water. Barbaric practice, truly." Archimedes moved to his desk. "Is there a reason I should fear you?"

"No?" Quasimodo slowly blinked. "I don't think so."

"Then I won't." Archimedes nodded. "Have you considered choosing a new name for yourself?"

"My name is accurate." Quasimodo shook his head.

"I suppose. You are neither human nor merman." Archimedes raised his eyebrow, uncertain if Quasimodo accepted his answer. He didn't believe it himself. "You're clearly exhausted. There are human beds in the ship, I will bring one out for you."

Archimedes disappeared into the darkness. Quasimodo seated himself on a stool, looking over the books and scrolls. It was familiar, yet foreign. The quills, or what looked like quills, were of black, iridescent stone with solid, pointed tips. His attention drifted to the text, written in his own language. He drew a deep breath.

The text was faded, yet legible. Quasimodo read the words, unable to stop himself. He felt his cheeks growing warm, turning an ever-deepening shade of pink. A swirl of cool water caused him to turn.

"I've being trying to figure out that text for ages." Archimedes released a mattress and blankets onto the floor.

"This is in French." Quasimodo tapped the page, sending the page into ripples. "It appears a love poem, of sorts. "Roman de la Rose..."

"What does it say?"

"Oh my." Quasimodo looked away. "That is indecent."

"Very well, that may wait for later. You should rest. I've heard that humans wrap themselves in these when they sleep." Archimedes passed a heap of blankets to Quasimodo. "Not sure what they will do under water, but have them if you want them."

Quasimodo thanked Archimedes, then allowed himself to drift down onto the bed. He wrapped himself in the blankets and was quickly asleep.

Archimedes looked down at the sleeping human, his nervousness growing. Quasimodo seemed nice enough, despite his unusual appearance. Were King Triton to learn of the humans transformation, he would surely blame him. Archimedes, the human-lover, would face exile rather than exclusion.


Ariel arrived in the palace. Her stomach grumbled and complained. Alana and Adella swam about the dining hall, nibbling at plankton pate.

"Did you rescue your friend yet?" Alana stuffed a few kale chips into her mouth. "Or are you here to collect his next meal?"

"Oh, he's freed." Ariel scooped into Elysium cloud, filling her plate.

"Dessert first?" Adella scoffed. "So where is he? In our room? In another dungeon?"

"He's safe. I'll introduce you later." Ariel grabbed a single kale chip heaped with plankton pate, stuffing it into her mouth. "There, I had supper first."

"Ariel! Ariel! Did you free the human?" Flounder raced through the entrance toward Ariel.

Adella dropped her chips. Alana grew pale.

"Sorry." Flounder backed away, shaking. "Ariel... no... I didn't mean..."

"I'm telling father." Adella darted away.

"Is that true?" Alana pleaded. " You saved a human? You know the rules. "

"I had to. He was going to die."

"Ariel, I can't help you."

"He's a good one, Alana." Ariel looked to her plate. "He doesn't mean any harm, I just... know it."

Ariel watched as Alana left the dining hall. Ariel set down her plate, her appetite gone. She swam to the library, laying among the scrolls and stories. Founder remained alone, in the dining hall, looking about nervously.

Before the water was light, Ariel was swimming towards Archimedes' home.


Monday November 6th, morning

"He knows!"

Ariel burst into the ship, startling Archimedes. Quasimodo remained asleep on the floor.

"How could he know?" Archimedes looked up from his scroll.

"Flounder let it slip." Ariel shook her head. "He didn't mean to. He seemed so excited and... Adella and Alana heard him."

"Then, you must take him back to wherever you got him." Archimedes set down his stylus.

"I can't." Ariel turned to her shoulder. "He'll die. The way he looks, the way he is... I think that's why his people rejected him. I can't do the same."

"You friend, he's not safe." Archimedes looked down at Quasimodo, who remained cocooned in blankets, asleep. "He's also not waking up."

"He's deaf."

"Ah. Well, wake him up and get him out of here. Take him east, to the place humans call Denmark."

Ariel reached down, gently pressing on Quasimodo's left shoulder. He blinked a few times, looking up at her.

"We need to go." Ariel pulled his arm, lifting him from the bed. The blankets fell away. His expression paled as he looked to Ariel and Archimedes.

"What's happening?"

"Father knows what you are."

Quasimodo covered the shell necklace with his hand.

"Then, we are going to the palace."

"This is not good." Ariel grasped his wrists. "I'll take you to Denmark, to other humans. You will be safe there."

"I'm not running... err... hiding, Ariel." Quasimodo straightened his fins and arms, stretching. "Thank-you for your hospitality Archimedes."

Quasimodo left the little room, swimming into the open water. He turned.

"Which way is the palace?" Quasimodo watched as Ariel gasped. Sturdy arms grasped his elbows.

The guards pulled Quasimodo away from the shipwreck, forcing him into open water. They directed him away, shouting at him in Atlantean. He offered no resistance. Ariel and Archimedes looked at each other before following.

The guards pushed Quasimodo into the throne room, before King Triton. He swam from his throne and approached Quasimodo.

"Why are you here?" King Triton shouted at Quasimodo, in Atlantean. He raised his trident, aiming its pointed tips at Quasimodo, before looking to his side.

"You, Archimedes. You did this?" He pointed his trident to the elderly merman.

Archimedes held his hands up, his head shaking.

"Daddy, I did it. It wasn't Archimedes, he wasn't even home. Quasimodo had nothing to do with it, either."

"You brought a human to our kingdom?"

"Daddy, he was going to die." Ariel swam forward, placing herself between her father and Quasimodo.

"That would be one less fish eater."

"He's not a fish-eater, daddy."

Quasimodo remained still, his eyes struggling to understand the rapid words and gestures of Ariel and her father. The two guards held him firmly. He remained still, forcing himself to relax. He closed his eyes and prayed.

"We can learn from him. He's not like the others!"

King Triton grasped Ariel's wrist, pulling her to his side.

"They are all the same. Fish-eaters, barbarians." He pointed his trident at Quasimodo, who remained still.

"Swim." Ariel shouted. "Get out of here."

Quasimodo remained still in the water, his hands folded and resting gently against his fin. Only when the points of the trident poked him in the neck did his eyes open and he looked up at King Triton. The trident forced his chin upward, causing his shoulders to ache.

"Your highness." Quasimodo's voice was low. "I didn't ask for this. I don't mean any harm to you, or anyone."

"Leave him, please daddy."

King Triton pressed his trident into Quasimodo's throat. He watched as the misshapen human-turned-merman remained still, even as a tendril of blood emerged from where the trident pressed into him.

Ariels' sisters approached, surrounding the spectacle in the throne room.

"That is the ugliest merman I've ever seen." Attina watched as Quasimodo held still.

"He's giving himself up." Arista shook her head, looking to Attina.

"I think Ariel was right, there is something wrong with him." Alana slumped. "He's not trying to escape. I think he's...broken in some way."

"Should we..." Andrina looked to her sisters. "...do something?

The sisters looked among themselves. Ariel pulled at her father's arm, trying to force the trident away from Quasimodo's neck.

"This is ridiculous." Alana blurted. Attina and Arista looked to Alana as she swam forward, placing herself between Quasimodo and her father.

"Alana. Move."

"Test him, father. Look inside him." Alana remained, her hand on the trident, pressing it away from Quasimodo's throat. Quasimodo raised his chin, nearly choking. The trident scraped against his skin.

"Look at him. He's alone, barely able to swim. He's given up." Alana gestured to Quasimodo. "He's half merman. Half, us. Even before... whatever it is that happened to him."

"My rules are my rules, and I expect them to be followed."

"Then prove he's a threat." Alana placed her hands on her hips.

Attina swam forward, followed by her sisters.

King Triton looked to his daughters. Ariel continued to tug at his arm. He motioned to the guards, they moved to the side. The princesses swam back as the trident began to glow, blinding, golden light traveling toward the tips.

Quasimodo strained his good eye, looking to Ariel. King Triton was staring at him intently, Quasimodo could feel the kings icy glare boring into him.

The tridents light filled him like fire. Quasimodo held his eyes closed, remaining still. Memories of Notre Dame flooded his mind. Tolling bells, chirping birds, a deep, throaty organ. Then, faint mumbles and broken, muted sounds, overpowered by bell-song. Memories pulled themselves from the hidden depths of his mind. Hours spent completing lessons, days alone in the bell-tower cold, hungry and thirsty. Locked doors, without handles. The feeling of a hand, board or whip striking him, feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. The meaning of his name and other words - abomination, monster, devil, hideous, deformed, shameful, unclean... they echoed in his mind's voice as suppressed memories released themselves as a flood. Tears flowed from his eyes, blending with the seawater.

Suddenly, the water around him grow cooler. The trident lowered, allowing him to move his neck.

King Triton lowered his arm, as the last of the golden light left Quasimodo.

Quasimodo raised his fingers to his neck, applying pressure to where the trident pierced him. His fin stilled, causing him to drift downward, to the floor. He remained still, gasping, with a throbbing headache. He felt arms lifting him up. Ariel and Archimedes held him.

"It appears that I misjudged you." King Triton shook his head, disturbed by what the trident revealed to him. "You may stay in the kingdom, for now."

"My daughters, show our guest to the dining hall. He's looking rather...pale."

Triton watched as his eldest daughters led the human away.

"Thank-you so much, daddy." Ariel kissed her father's cheek. Triton smiled as Ariel joined her sisters. His attention turned to Archimedes.

"You. You had nothing to do with this?"

"I only met him last night, when Ariel brought him into my home. He already bore the shift. He seems a decent sort of, fellow?" Archimedes held up his palms. "Your highness, I never would have suggested such a drastic act."

"I know." Triton nodded. "However, as you are so interested in humans, I expect that you will watch this one rather than wandering off to wherever it is you wander off to. He should stay with you. He doesn't mean any harm, that's clear enough. Yet he could bring trouble."


The real end.