This chapter is up much later than I intended. For one I had a staph infection that put me in serious pain for a few days. Also my work is about to go through an important assessment, so everyone's hours have been extended making me too tired to write. I finished most of it this morning around one, but was too tired to proofread. My family came by today, so I'm just now getting a chance to edit this chapter. In short, I'm sorry it took nearly a week to upload this chapter, but at long last I have a nice long chapter for you all.
There has been a slight change to the last chapter. I forgot that Mermando lives in the Gulf of Mexico, and even with quick underwater travel, swimming from an Oregon beach to the other side of the country would take quite a long time. I was going to make it the Gulf of California, but it's still a good ways away. In the end I decided on the Gulf of Santa Catalina-it's still a good bit away from Oregon, but it's the closest choice.
Also, very little is known about Mermando's family, so that means a lot of fanfiction freedom for me.
As always, thank you to the awesome reviewers: Fantasy Female Freak, 2021FanGirl, CornChip, Marisol777, Energy witch, Berrybanana05, Christina730, ImpossibleJedi4, BonBon, and Ella Le Hissy.
The gills along their necks opened the second they descended into the ocean. The six new merpeople followed closely behind their guide.
Mabel broke away from the rest in her party and swam closer to her previous love. She darted for the shore and flipped back into the ocean. Wendy laughed at the girl's antics. She swam to the surface to twirl, splashing water about her form as the sunlight glimmered off the vibrant green scales on her new tail. Dipper scowled as the two females clapped hands. Mermando, however, watched with a placid smile. How unfortunate Mabel had not been born a mermaid.
Ford followed with a smile. He made a mental note to witness every detail and ask as many questions as possible when they arrived. Perhaps an entire new journal could be dedicated to the merworld.
Dipper glanced up where yards above his head rested the surface. Sure their new tails and fins gave them speed in the water, but he feared how long they would have to reach the top with human legs once the potion wore off. More so he wondered where exactly they were located out in the ocean.
It felt like they had swam an entire hour when they finally reached the underwater kingdom. A sign made of coral and lined with shells read: Aquatica. They all stared in awe at the vast buildings made of coral and shells. Straight ahead was the palace in which the king-Mermando's uncle-would host the party. The palace was constructed of millions of pearls. The walls were decorated with a variety of seashells, larger than any of the humans had ever set eyes on before.
The seven hovered in the water. Small fish skirted about them.
"Is this your kingdom?" Mabel asked.
"No," Mermando answered. He held his arm out towards the castle. "This is the kingdom of Aquatica in the center of the Gulf of Santa Catalina. My uncle's kingdom." He turned towards Mabel. "Mine is on the other side of the land. It will take too long to travel."
"How'd we get here so fast?" Dipper asked.
"Merpeople can swim long distances in a short time," Mermando answered with a wink. He clapped his hands together. "Today is my uncle's birthday. Every year he holds a grand party, so many merpeople will flock here for the festivities. You all are my guests and are free to have fun."
Everyone looked at each other and with shrugs they piled in through the gates. Mermando swam over to Mabel and pulled her aside.
"Mabel, mi amor, I must warn you to stay clear of my wife Lena," Mermando whispered.
"The manatee queen?" Mabel asked, not bothering to hide the hurt in her voice. She didn't hate the manatee, but couldn't find it in her heart the wish to befriend her either. "She doesn't know about us, does she?"
Mermando shook his head. "I never spoke a word, I promise." He squinted his eyes and looked around the empty area. "But I can't promise your name hasn't been mentioned by others. I'm sure she's been told in detail, although she's never said anything to me."
"Who would want to do that?" the brunette asked.
Mermando sighed. "Not everyone is happy about our kingdoms uniting." He crossed his arms and turned away from the girl, bubbles passing by his nose. "They'll risk even war to break us apart and call off this alliance."
"That's terrible," Mabel said. She put her hand on Mermando's shoulder. The merman smiled back at her.
"Mabel, I promise I've never been happy with Lena," he confessed. He put his hand atop of hers. "But having one more day with you will make up for a lifetime of misery with my betrothed."
Mabel smiled. Mermando returned her smile and the two swam through the gates that led to the palace. Neither one noticed the pair of eyes that watched their exchange from the coral tower.
As the group entered through the gates they stared in awe at the number of merpeople and other aquatic lifeforms. Mabel gushed at the sight of the dolphins that swam freely through the kingdom. Mermando took hold of her hand and led her over to those who were his friends.
One of the dolphins Mermando introduced as Luis approached the two. He guided Mabel's hand to the dolphin's face. Luis leaned into the girl's touch. She moved closer and hugged him around the neck. The dolphin's nose nuzzled against her cheek.
"I think Mabel is in Heaven," Wendy commented.
"I can't blame her, this body is mega cool," Soos replied. He rolled three times admiring the swift moving sapphire tail accompanied by aquamarine fins.
Bill swam about taking in the beautiful and exotic decor of the undersea world. He recalled how he used to see beneath the ocean, but none of that compared to actually being there in person. Ford followed behind his curious boyfriend, observing the people of the kingdom.
A school of angelfish maneuvered around Bill. Their fins tickled at his exposed tummy causing him to giggle. Ford bit down on his lip. How perfect that the gold scales of his new tail matched the shade of his hair and eyes. Were his journal with him he'd definitely capture that moment of bliss on his boyfriend's face.
Bill performed three corkscrew turns with his eyes closed while the golden hair danced around his face. In that moment he finally understood why Mabel enjoyed the ocean so much.
At the sound of hushed giggles Bill turned to see four mermaids huddled close by with flushed faces. One gasped as Bill caught her pointing in his direction. Her friends laughed while she hid her face behind her hands in shame. Her slim fingers parted enough for her eyes to lock with Bill's. With another squeak she turned, her face a deep red.
Ford pretended not to notice. It wasn't out of the ordinary for others to stare longer than necessary to admire his boyfriend's beauty. While sometimes Bill even encouraged their behavior much to his chagrin, he knew he had nothing to worry about.
"Mermando!" a male voice called, sporting a similar accent as the mentioned.
The seven glanced over to see two mermen approach. The first was a man with long hair that shielded his eyes and a large mustache surrounding a grinning mouth. The younger one wore a smile with perfect teeth. His hair fuller and longer than Mermando's swayed as he swam. Mabel, Wendy, and Bill all mentally agreed the buff merman to be physically attractive.
Several other merpeople bowed before the two. Soos copied the gesture, although the others only floated with gaping mouths.
"I see you've brought friends," the older one said.
"I have," Mermando answered. He turned to the group and introduced the man as his father, Prince Rafael.
Mabel gasped and immediately joined Soos with a bow of her own. Dipper, Wendy, and Ford followed the action. A nudge in the ribs from Wendy caused Bill to lower his head as well.
Mermando's father looked over the group. Their awe and curiosity of their culture clued him in that the visitors weren't naturally from the sea. He looked pointedly at the brown-haired female.
"I know you," the older merman said. Mabel gulped as she slowly lifted her head. She expected to see a look of annoyance or disgust, but was pleasantly surprised to see him gently smiling. "You look exactly the way my son described."
Mabel chuckled awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Wendy bit her lip and Dipper rubbed at his arm.
"It makes me happy that you keep your friendship with Mermando," Rafael said and lightly bowed his head to the girl. He gazed at the perplexed look upon her face. "I know your attendance at this party will lift his spirits."
Mabel laughed. She poked at her cheek. "Well, that's what I'm good at, lifting spirits." She stuck out her tongue which made Rafael laugh.
A look of concern passed over his face. He said to Mermando, "Keep in mind we don't want a scene. If possible don't let her draw attention to herself."
As he moved away Ford stopped him to ask a few questions. The merman laughed and led Ford and Bill away to indulge the scientist. Mermando only chuckled, little did the two know how his father liked to talk. Bill glanced over his shoulder to take one last gander at the handsome stranger he had not been given the privilege to learn his name.
The other merman stayed behind. He hovered with his hands on his hips, but kept his grin.
"Everyone, this is my cousin, Mateo," Mermando introduced.
Mateo immediately approached Wendy. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. Her face turned as red as her hair when she felt the pressure of his mouth on her skin. A strange tingle filled her body as she felt her mouth curve upwards. Dipper, however, scowled.
"You are right, cousin, land women are beautiful," Mateo said. He winked at the redhead then greeted the girl who had captured his relative's hearts. He shook Mabel's hand. "Mermando's hearts ached when he had to leave you." He glanced over at his cousin then continued, "Even more when he was forced to marry another."
Mabel nervously chuckled. She looked over at her brother who seemed annoyed with both Mermando and Mateo.
"It had to be done," Mermando said with hurt in his voice. "As Papa said, it was for the good of our kingdoms."
For a moment even Dipper felt a hint of pity for Mermando.
"But enough politics, we are here for a celebration," Mateo said. "Come, enjoy my kingdom. I hope you find it a special treat before you must return to your world."
The four exchanged glances having forgotten about the warning of the potion wearing off at sunset. However, it was still early and they had plenty of time to enjoy themselves before needing to retreat back to the shore.
Mateo took hold of Wendy's hand and led her to the musician's circle where he picked up his own guitar. The redhead clasped her hands and sat down on a large rock as the prince took his spot in the center of the arena surrounded by stones. A few others sat down on the vacant stones while Mateo strummed the first few chords. Wendy smiled as Mateo's baritone voice sang of unrequited love.
Dipper clicked his tongue. "I don't get what's so great about playing guitars," he said.
"Don't be jealous, Bro-Bro," Mabel said and playfully punched Dipper in the arm.
"It's an enigma, dude, women are naturally drawn to musicians," said Soos.
"It's stupid," Dipper said with a roll of his eyes.
"Maybe some undersea snacks will make you feel better," Soos suggested.
Dipper shrugged. Anything was better than watching Wendy fawn over yet another musician.
The four headed over to a long table made of stone where various foods were displayed. Various sea creatures indulged in the party snacks. Dipper and Mabel sneered at the unappetizing food, consisting mostly of mollusks and seaweed. Nonetheless hunger won out and the three trusted Mermando's recommendation on which ones were the tastiest. A few finger foods in their grasp, the group mingled about the courtyard.
Meanwhile on the beach Susan sat up from where she had fallen asleep on the chair. She heard Stan's distinguishable laugh and turned to see her fiance chortling at a magazine article. She lifted the brim of her hat and searched the location. She pursed her lips upon seeing the area vacant of the rest of their party.
She reached over and tugged on Stan's bathing suit sleeve. The man grunted and stared over at his fiancee who met him with a pout.
"Have you seen the kids?" she asked.
Stan adjusted himself in the chair. "They went out a while ago," he said then opened the magazine back up to the page he marked with his thumb.
"That was over an hour ago," Susan replied looking down at the watch she kept in the side pocket of her beach bag. She leaned forward in her chair and strained her eyes to catch a glimpse of at least one of the six. "I don't see them in the water."
"My brother's with 'em," Stan countered. "If they ain't in the water, then they probably went explorin' or to get some snacks, or something."
Susan hummed, but didn't say anything more on the matter. She settled herself back in the chair and looked up at the clouds. After all Stan knew his family better than her.
Rafael led Ford and Bill through the garden that housed stone statues carved in the likeness of the great sea kings of the past three centuries. Ford voiced his fascination as he examined each statue while wishing he had purchased a water camera for the visit.
The merman looked over his shoulder to see Ford touch one of the stone statues. The statue wore a scowl and seemed to be missing two fingers on his left hand. He smiled and patted the carved shoulder of his ancestor.
"That is King Camilo," Rafael said proudly with his hands on his hips. "My great-great-great grandfather. He led the army of mermen against the infamous invaders known as the Mako Riders."
Bill moved closer to Ford. Both kept their gaze on Prince Rafael who stared up at the statue of his ancestor with a proud smile.
"Are they sharks?" Ford asked.
"Yes and no," Rafael answered. "They are mermen who increased their strength ingesting the blood of strong sharks. The ones they spared are raised as transportation for the warriors."
Bill raised his eyebrows. He glanced over at Ford then nodded for the prince to continue.
"Some say it's just rumor, but when Camilo fought against the Mako Rider's leader, he thrust the blade into his mouth. In retaliation for his death, the merman snapped off two of Camilo's fingers with shark's teeth. A hundred men witnessed it." Rafael held his hand in a fist. "With his last breath he vowed his people would return to finish the job."
Ford stared as he listened to the noble man's words. From the number of stories Rafael had told them in the time they had been in his presence, Aquatica had a marvelous history.
Bill glanced back over at the statue then back to their host. He crossed his arms and leaned in to himself. He would need to speak to one of the Mako Riders to verify the rumor, but it reminded him of the spell he kept hidden from Ford back at the Mystery Shack. It would be too risky to have Ford conduct the ritual, and Dipper had been ordered not to attempt magic, but if another offered he could still transfer another demon's magic to himself.
Ford nodded. He removed his hand from the statue and looked upon the serious stone face with a new respect for the ancient sea king.
"Your culture is fascinating," Ford said. Rafael beamed with pride. "It's a shame we'll only have today." He stroked his chin and asked, "That potion your son gave us, how would we be able to recreate it?"
Rafael sighed. "I am pleased to meet you, Ford, your family, and your quiet friend." He motioned over to Bill who scowled. "But Mermando broke a serious law when he gave it to you."
Ford narrowed his brow and Bill moved closer to the two.
"That potion is only to be used in grave emergencies," Rafael explained. "Mermando will be reprimanded for his actions." He looked away from the guests. "And your niece being here might cause trouble for our treaty with the manatees."
"I assure you we didn't know until we arrived," said Ford. "I hope you won't blame Mabel for keeping this piece of information."
Rafael shook his head. "I can't blame the young for being in love." He stared over the vast array of statues. "It's a terrible fate that my son wasn't given the option of true love." He thought over his own wife and how miserable his life would have been had he married anyone else. "I wish from the bottom of my seventeen hearts that Mermando and Lena will come to love each other in time. It has happened before, so it can happen again."
Ford looked over at Bill. He smiled at the nobleman and said, "If it helps, I can tell you that Bill and I were in the same position not too long ago." Ford's words peeked Rafael's interest. "We were forced together under...strange circumstances. And at first we hated each other."
Bill nodded.
Ford took hold of Bill's hand. "But we did fall in love."
Bill snuggled close to his boyfriend and laid his head on Ford's shoulder. "We're shtill in luff," Bill said softly that the two others had to strain to hear him.
Rafael smiled. "It does give me hope." Despite the smile he still feared for his son's happiness.
He guided his guests into the castle where various nobles socialized with high laughter. The servants hurried about to offer refreshments to those on the VIP list. Bill watched the merriment while Ford continued to converse with Rafael.
At once a crowd formed over in the corner of the room. Curious at the noise Bill swam closer to the source of entertainment. A particular young mermaid spun around while her hips swayed. Her long caramel locks fluttered above her head while bubbles danced around her accentuating her swift movements. She stopped with both arms in the air, the wrists turned out. The mermaid bowed before the applauding audience.
She peered over in the direction of her king's brother. Rafael nodded at the female to which she bowed. She glanced up and her deep brown eyes met with Bill's. She winked at the blond which made him smile.
The action didn't go unnoticed by Ford. Rafael talked on about something that the other man's ears never heard. The mermaid approached Bill. She removed the pink anemone from her hair and inserted it behind Bill's ear. Bill smiled as he reached up to pet the gift.
With narrowed eyes Ford swam over to Bill and yanked his arm. The caramel-haired mermaid backed up as Ford pulled Bill away. The force behind Ford's grab caused the sea flower to fall from Bill's ear. It floated through the water, away from its original owner and unnoticed by the others in the room.
"We're going now," the author demanded.
Bill rolled his eyes, but followed after the fuming Ford. The mermaid stared for a few seconds then shrugged and turned to greet another admirer standing to her right.
Rafael led the two through the hallway of tapestries made of shell and stone. He spoke on about select pieces, unaware of the silence and rage a few feet behind him. There was one in particular he wished to show his guests that portrayed the battle of King Camilo against the Mako Riders.
The couple nearly collided with their guide as he halted in the presence of a slightly older merman. The one before them shared facial features with Rafael, although his hair was shorter and didn't obscure his eyes.
"Ah, gentlemen, let me introduce my brother King Elias," Rafael said extending his hand to the older merman.
Elias nodded. He scrutinized the two and without a word pulled his brother aside.
As soon as they were out of earshot Elias whispered in Spanish, "Are they friends of yours as I have never seen them before?" He sent a quick glimpse to see the older one trying to control burning rage displayed on his face.
"They are acquaintances of Mermando," Rafael answered in his native language. "One in their party is good friends with my son, and I wished to treat them as such."
"Are you sure?" the king inquired. "The rumors of the Mako Riders have spread. I can't be too careful."
"They are land people he transformed and brought for your party."
Elias' eyes narrowed. "Your son stole the potion from my storeroom?"
"Yes, and I intend to ensure it doesn't happen again," Rafael replied with a serious tone he rarely used. "But it wouldn't be fair to mistreat them for Mermando's actions. They didn't know they did any wrong."
Elias still held his frown. "Anyway, I don't trust them. They could be spies for the enemy. Try to keep your mouth shut on important things."
It was Rafael's turn to wear the frown. He watched with boiling blood as his older brother swam past him. Elias stopped before the two and gave them both a fierce glare.
In English Elias said, "My brother and his son have given you their welcome, and for their sakes I shan't override his hospitality." Elias shot a glare in Rafael's direction. His glower again fixed on the visitors. "But know I don't welcome you here."
With that Aquatica's king passed on by. Bill and Ford exchanged glances then looked back over at Rafael who immediately apologized for his brother's rudeness.
"Understand his caution," Rafael explained. "The story I told you earlier of the Mako Riders. Apparently they have been spotted too many times not far from the borders of this kingdom. He is worried. Elias is trained for battle, but his kingdom is not prepared should it happen."
Ford nodded.
Rafael clapped Ford on the back. "Let's get you back to the party."
Rafael swam ahead of the two. Ford looked over at his boyfriend and without a word followed after. Bill frowned, but kept close to the other two.
She heard from the waitress pouring coffee into a customer's mug that Lazy Susan had taken the weekend off for an impromptu vacation with her fiance and his family. The woman nearly dismissed trivial gossip when her ears caught the customer mentioning Susan's engagement to Stan Pines.
The redhead finished off the remainder of her orange juice as another sitting at the counter mentioned heading over to the Mystery Shack to see it closed until Monday. Avery's lips curved into a grin.
The social worker paid her bill then left in a hurry. She started her Porsche and with a huge smile began yet another trip to the Mystery Shack. She kept an eye out for any potential wandering eyes. Her car parked a quarter of a mile from the tourist trap she dashed through the woods, keeping herself hidden. Dressed in black pants and matching t-shirt she dove over to the side of the shack.
The driveway was vacant of any vehicles including Stan's car and RV, and the vehicle belonging to the handyman. The large sign on the front door verified the customer's claim of the shack being closed for the weekend.
Caroline crept up the back stairs, her eyes looking out for the rare chance of passerbys. She jiggled the handle to find it locked. A bobby pin pulled from her hair twisted into a bun was inserted into the keyhole. It took a few tries and the lock clicked. The woman quietly opened the door just incase someone stayed behind.
The door creaked as it slowly opened. Caroline Avery darted inside and closed the door behind her. She stood with her back against the door and waited half a minute to discover no one checking on the noise. She crept through the house, looking out for any sign of a Pines family member, or Mystery Shack employee.
Further into the house Caroline stopped. Only the settling of the shack and the occasional knock of a woodpecker on the roof resonated from the building.
The grin on her face grew. The words the Pines girl mistakenly revealed led her to believe without doubt Stanford's lab was hidden somewhere in the shack. In addition, the evidence from the hospital report provided that Bill's second accident happened inside that very building. It was only a matter of time.
The Pines were not expected back until at least nightfall which would give her plenty of time to search. As tempting as free access to Bill's room was, she was certain the lab wasn't located in there. However those journals Gideon mentioned could be. How silly the Gleeful boy was to think he could fool her into believing he fabricated the whole story.
Gideon was a clever enough child to create a bold, detailed lie surrounding the journals and his suspicions of Bill and the Pines; in fact he had once fooled the entire town into believing he was a legitimate psychic. However she had spent many years working with children and could tell the difference between a convincing lie and the truth. When the boy spilled his tale in anger, she felt the truth behind his words. Whatever hold the Pines had on him to try and coerce her to drop the case would never work. She had too much riding on finding out the truth.
Avery reached into her pants pocket and pulled out the gold heart-shaped locket. She lifted the tab and smiled at the stoic face of the black and white photograph behind the frame. The lab and journal would soon be found. With both discoveries out in the open everything would be right again.
Mabel and Mermando mingled about the festivities with Dipper and Soos close behind. The male twin crossed his arms as he glared at the two who barely acknowledged his presence the entirety of their stroll.
The four stopped at a gate where the next round of games would begin.
Mermando pointed at the first game: a spearing contest. He explained to Mabel that the player with the most accurate hit of the target would be awarded the winner and given the prize.
The judge took his spot in the center of the arena. He began his usual speech regarding the contest in Spanish. Mermando translated the announcer's words for the twins. All at once the five contestants grabbed hold of their spear.
All eyes turned to the first player. With a serious expression he hurled his weapon at the cloth target. The spear skewered earning him shouts and applause from the spectators, but all could see his aim was off too far to the left. The second one scored closer and the third manage to strike his spear all the way through. The crowd roared. The third contestant grinned at the audience and blew them a kiss with his three center fingers.
With two more competitors to go, chatter erupted through the crowd, some taking bets on who would be the ultimate victor. The fourth shot and barely missed the center earning him groans of sympathy. The fifth missed the target altogether and his face burned hot when the audience laughed and heckled. He could already hear his wife's nagging four feet behind the gate.
The judge approached the third contestant with the prize in his hands. He lifted his left hand and in the right sat a shiny redstone. The winner held his prize high above his head which caused his family and fans to scream louder.
"Wow, it's pretty," Mabel commented.
"It is our most coveted form of currency," Mermando said. "One is awarded at each of these games."
"That's awesome," said Soos.
The judge announced another round would begin in half an hour. right after the king's address to his guests, and anyone who wished to participate was welcome; the winner of the last round was already guaranteed a spot. Soos eyed the redstone in the previous winner's hand. He would have little use of it in his world, but figured it would make a nice gift for Melody.
"I think I might sign up," said Soos.
"You should," Dipper replied.
"I'll so root for you," Mabel added.
Soos excused himself to sign up for the next competition.
The three swam a bit further to watch some of the other entertainment. A trio of mermaids sang to a captive audience. Beyond that was a relay in which three people were needed to participate.
"Dipper, Mermando, we should do that," Mabel exclaimed and pointed to the the area designated for the relay.
"Mabel, you know I'm no good at these activities," Dipper groaned as painful memories of former field day and P.E. races surfaced.
"Maybe not on legs, but you've got a tail now," Mabel said and pulled on Dipper's fins.
"Hey, cut it out!" the male twin cried.
"That's not a good idea," Mermando said. "If I participate then everyone will see you with me."
"They see me with you right now," Mabel replied.
"Yes, but it's not obvious," Mermando explained. He stared back over at the relay track. "If everyone is staring right at us, they will be forced to notice."
Mabel opened her mouth to protest when she remembered Mermando's father's warning to her. With a sigh the girl conceded.
Guilt swelled at Dipper's heart. He swallowed his pride and suggested, "Maybe Soos, or Wendy, or even Bill can be our third person."
Mabel's mouth curved into a smile.
The twins felt two more bodies close the empty space next to them and looked up to see Wendy who's arm was locked with Mateo's. Dipper sneered at the prince then quickly turned away.
"I'm afraid we're needed inside," Mateo said. He gently gripped Wendy's chin. "I'll be back for you." He kissed her on the cheek then motioned for Mermando to follow. The younger merman said his goodbyes then swam off with his cousin.
Dipper looked over at Wendy to see her hand still holding the spot the merman kissed. Her eyes were glossed over as she stared in the direction Mateo left with a placid smile.
"Did you have fun?" Dipper asked shortly.
Wendy broke from her trance. With a soft moan and a smile she nodded. "Mateo's a great guy," she said. Wendy crossed her arms and with a chuckle said, "Too bad I can't find any human guys like that."
Dipper gritted his teeth. He sharply turned his head away and bit his tongue to keep himself from saying something that would have forever ruined their friendship.
"It's sad," Mabel said. The other two looked over. "Me and Mermando can't even be real friends because of the manatee queen."
Dipper lowered his head.
There wasn't much time to lament as trumpets sounded from the castle followed by a roar of applause and shouts. They swam over towards the pandemonium to see the crown king of Aquatica hover behind the lower balcony of his palace. To his left was Rafael and on his right his queen.
On the lower left balcony floated a figure that caught Mabel's attention. Lena, Queen of the Manatees, dressed in a fine blue gown stared out into the audience. Next to her stood Mermando who tried his best to keep a smile, although Mabel could tell it was false.
Mabel could only focus on the creature's majesty. Lena felt a burning stare and glanced over to see the girl who marked a resemblance to the one heard people whisper about in silence who had a history with her husband. Lena kept her breath and spoke not a word.
"Greetings, my subjects and friends!" King Elias called out in both Spanish and English to ensure all the visitors from the Pacific coast could understand. "I thank you all for attending the celebration of my forty-seventh birthday."
With that came cheers and applause from the crowd. Even the human visitors felt obligated to clap.
"Each day our kingdom is at peace is one to celebrate," Elias announced. "I vow on my life to keep our gulf safe and prosperous." Another shout of praise filled the water. "This promise will live on through my son."
On the lower right balcony Prince Mateo appeared earning him applause from the audience. Wendy inserted two fingers into her mouth and released a whistle. Dipper cringed and fought to keep himself from blurting to her that before the day ended they'd be back on land.
Mabel's eyes widened as Lena took Mermando's hand in her flipper.
King Elias continued to speak, but the words never made it to Mabel's ears. All she could hear was the pounding of her heart echoing in her head. She fought back tears then retreated from the crowd.
Dipper called after her, that his sister never heard. He followed, quickly closing in on her. He was forced to stop as sharply as his twin had.
"Dipper, go back," Mabel said while looking down at the ocean floor.
"Mabel, I..." Dipper began.
"Please, I just need some time alone," she said.
Dipper watched his sister swim further away.
From the balcony Mermando watched the form of his fleeing love with heavy hearts. Yet again he cursed life for its cruelty.
Mabel swam through the gate, exiting the kingdom of Aquatica.
She swam through the waters unaware of her direction, not taking in the beauty of the undersea landscape. Up ahead she spotted a small sea cave and darted inside. She leaned her back against the stone wall and leaned into her hands. This time she didn't have the luxury of a sweater to hide herself.
It was folly to believe she could ever have a relationship with Mermando. Her dreams of a romance with him had been crushed a long time ago. Even if he hadn't been forced to marry Lena, the fact remained they were from separate worlds, and in reality there was no magic to transform either of them permanently.
Mabel let out a laugh then wiped away a tear. Surely everyone would soon miss her and Dipper would tell them all where she ran off to. She would hate herself too much if her friends had to waste what little time they had to enjoy the ocean looking for her.
Mabel poked her head out of the cave and gasped at the sight of three mermen smiling down at her.
"You scared me," Mabel said, believing Mermando sent them after her.
The three chuckled as they looked at each other then back at the girl. Mabel then noticed the three rode atop of sharks. The one on the left held a young dolphin in his grasp.
"You're a special friend of Mermando?" the one in the middle asked.
Mabel nodded. "We met last year," she answered. "It's actually a funny story."
"I'd love to hear it," the merman said. He snapped his fingers and the larger one to his right snatched Mabel up by her middle.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Mabel cried.
Her captor held tight despite the girl's wiggling.
"Help! Someone help!" Mabel yelled.
The Mako Rider put his hand over Mabel's mouth only for her to sink her teeth into his skin. The merman cursed then backhanded Mabel in the face. The force of the blow knocked her against the cave. She blacked out and landed in a folded lump along the ocean floor.
The leader maneuvered his shark over to the shuddering dolphin. His cold gray eyes stared into the frightened ones of the baby dolphin. "Send message to the king and Mermando. Tell them we have his precious friend." He glanced over his shoulder to see the other in his group hoist Mabel from the ground then threw her over the shark's back. His glare returned to the dolphin. "He knows what we want and each day he waits another of his people will die." He grinned at the unconscious Mabel. "Each day I will add two more to my quota."
The merman released his hold on the dolphin. The leader smacked the tiny mammal with a rod made of coral. The dolphin shrieked then swam off to relay the message to Mermando.