Chapter 3 - Part of your world
As Stella scuttled along the ocean floor looking for Arron she muttered to herself in annoyance.
"I cant believe all a dis…" She mumbled to herself. "I should be writing music, not chasing after some headstrong teenager…" As Stella said these words she spotted Arron and Flora swimming over head, both looking tense and secretive. "What are day up to?" The crab said to herself and she hurriedly scuttled after them. Stella stealthily trailed after the duo, her crab legs aching, until finally she saw Arron pull back a large boulder to reveal a doorway to some sort of cave. He looked around to make sure no one else saw what he was doing, then swam in, Flora in tow.
Stella ran after them, but got her back legs caught in the doorway as the stone closed on her. She grabbed a nearby weed and pulled to free herself, only to be sent crashing into a pile of objects. Once she caught her breath, she looked around and realised she was in a large cave, with rock shelves displaying dozens and dozens of human items. Mirrors, jewellery, goblets, so many human trinkets placed upon the shelves. Stella's mouth dropped open.
Arron lay on a rock in the middle of the cave as he examined his new 'dingle-hopper', looking forlorn and vulnerable. Flora swam up to him and placed a fin on his shoulder.
"Arron" Said the fish "Are you ok?" Arron didn't reply, he only looked at his new treasure, turning it over in his hands.
"I just wish I could make her understand" He said. "I don't see things the way she does. I don't see how a world that makes such wonderful things can be so bad."
Look at this stuff
Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think my collection's complete?
Wouldn't you think I'm the boy
The boy who has everything?
Look at this trove
Treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Lookin' around here you'd think
Sure, he's got everything
I've got gadgets and gizmos aplenty
I've got whozits and whatzits galore
You want thingamabobs? I got twenty
But who cares?
No big deal
I want more
I want to be where the people are
I want to see
want to see 'em dancin'
Walkin' around on those
Whad'ya call 'em? oh - feet
Flippin' your fins you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumpin', dancin'
Strollin' along down a
What's that word again? Street
Up where they walk
Up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wandering free
Wish I could be
Part of that world
What would I give
If I could live
Outta these waters?
What would I pay
To spend a day
Warm on the sand?
Betcha on land
They understand
Bet they don't reprimand their own sons
People are free,
Sick of the sea,
Ready to stand!
And ready to know what the people know
Ask 'em my questions
And get some answers
What's a fire and why does it
What's the word? Burn!
When's it my turn?
Wouldn't I love
Love to explore that shore up above!
Out of the sea
Wish I could be
Part of that world
Flora frowned and felt sorry for her friend, truly not knowing what to say. She had never heard her friend say anything like this before, and now all of a sudden he didn't want to be a merman anymore? Luckily, Flora didn't have to say anything, because right as she was about to comfort her friend, Stella fell off one of the shelves she was hiding on and fell onto a pile of of Arron's things, making a huge noise. Both fish and merman looked up to find Stella scrambling out of a jewellery box, necklaces tangled all over her. She looked ridiculous.
"Stella!" Said Arron, darting up in surprise. How did she get in here? He thought.
"Arron!" She started "What the-how could you-what is all dis!" She demanded to know as she shook a string of pearls off her leg.
"It's just, my, collection…" Said Arron. Stella grinned a fake smile as she picked up a fishing hook, ironically.
"Oh, I see." She said. "Your collection… IF YOUR MOTHER KNEW ABOUT THIS PLACE SHE WOULD-" She was cut off by Flora.
"You're not gonna tell her are you?" She pleaded on behalf of her friend.
"Oh please Stella, she would never understand." Said Arron. "Plus, I'm grounded for a year if I slip up again." Stella sighed.
"Arron, you're under a lot of pressure down here. Come with me, I'll take you home-" Arron's train of thought wandered off as he saw a shadow engulf the cave.
"What do you suppose…" He trailed off and swam through the hole in the roof of the cave to inspect what made the shadow.
"Arron? Oh, damn you for bein' such a damn child…" Stella said, annoyed, and yet again hurried after the young prince, Flora behind her as they reached the surface alongside Arron. Arron was speechless. What had made the shadow over the cave was none other than a ship, and not a sunken broken one, a proper moving one! Stella noticed the huge vessel and jumped in the air. "Jumpin' jellyfish!" She cried. Huge, colourful fireworks ignited the night sky one after the other, making such a spectacle Arron was entranced by it.
Without another word, the merman swam after the ship at full speed, desperate to get a better view. Stella's heart began to race when she remembered her promise to the queen, to keep him out of trouble. Now, the boy was off swimming after a human ship! This had totally had the opposite effect.
"Arron!" She cried. "Arron, please, come back!"
Arron swam up to the ship and climbed up the side. His eyes widened in amazement as he saw dozens of humans, all dancing and clapping along to music coming from peculiar looking objects, too busy and happy to notice the crimson haired boy spying on the party. Suddenly, Sienna flew behind him.
"How ya doin' kid?" She asked, rather loudly.
"Sienna, be quiet!" Arron shushed the bird. "They'll hear you…" Arron and Sienna looked at the deck, and whenever a human looked his way, he quickly ducked his head bellow and slowly made his way back up to steal another glance. "Ive never seen a human this close before…" He said to himself, clearly having the time of his life.
A plump white cat picked up an unfamiliar scent and waddled over to Arron, giving him a big lick on the nose. Arron laughed at this strange animal, and ducked his head again as the cats owner came over to the ball of fluff.
"What is it, girl?" Erica asked the cat. Arron looked up at the princess from his hiding spot. His heart stopped. Never before in his life had he seen a girl so beautiful. Erica's pale face and long black curls shone in the night sky.
Arron placed his head on his arms and looked dreamily at Erica as she danced around the deck with her cat.
"She's very beautiful, isn't she?" He said mainly to himself, but Sienna overheard him and spied the cat the girl was holding.
"I don't know" said the bird "looks kinda fat and hairy to me…" Arron scoffed at his friends stupidity.
"Not that one-" he turned Sienna's head up to face the girl "That one" He said.
Grimsby walked to the middle of the deck in front of a large object covered with a tarp, and addressed the crew.
"Thank you, thank you everyone. Tonight we celebrate Erica's fifteenth birthday. And to commemorate this event, we present a very large, very expensive birthday present." Two sailors ripped off the tarp. "Happy birthday Erica!" Said grimsby.
Erica looked in disgust at what was under the cover. It was an enormous wedding gown, with ruffles extending for what seemed like miles. Erica hated formal get-up, and much preferred a simple shirt and skirt, much more practical for being at sea. Maxine hissed at the dress.
"Wow grim.." She said. "It's, uh, its really something." Grimsby saw through the princesses distaste, but didn't say anything to admit it. "You really shouldn't have…" chuckled Erica, not wanting to appear rude in front of the man who had raised her since her parents untimely death.
"I know." Said grimsby "And I was hoping it would be a wedding present" Erica looked up in an 'ugh, not this again' way, sighed, and walked over to the side of the ship.
"You always say that, grim." Grimsby tried again.
"I know Erica, but it isn't me alone. The entire kingdom wants to see you happily settled down with the right boy." Erica knew this was coming.
"You're not still mad because I didn't fall for the Prince of Arendelle are you? He was a total shut-in! Don't worry grim, when I find that boy I'll know he's the one!" She said. Arron slowly turned his head closer to hear the conversation. "It'll hit me" said Erica "like, like lightning!" No sooner had the words left her lips however, than thunder and bright flashes of lightning appeared in the sky.