In an unknown remote part of the ocean, Slattern continues to prepare his army for the big army. Armor plating been made for the Banshees for an aerial attack on Eric's kingdom.
"Everything's on course, sir." Otachi reported.
"Good." Slattern said. "By any chance, has that dragon Melody encountered been located?"
"2 Banshees are flying to his mountain as we speak." Otachi said.
"Good." Slattern said. "Rodan and Ghidorah will be leading the aerial attack. Make sure everything is set for a ground attack as well."
"Yes, sire." Otachi bowed and heads off.
Slattern heads off and watches as his army prepares.
"By the time I'm through with this, Triton." Slattern said. "There won't be anyone left to even remember your name. Enjoy your peace now... while you still can."
He then heads off and climbs down a rock, and swims off.
A few hours later, it was midnight as Slattern swam through the water.
His size and appearance made any fish quickly off as he seems to be looking for something.
Or someone.
He slows to a stop near a rock, and spotted a Tiger Shark and 2 Manta Rays swimming together. Slattern knew who they were and starts to lurking in the shadows towards them.
"Undertow, Cloak and Dagger, I presume?" Slattern said.
"Huh? Who said that?" Undertow said looking around.
"Over here." Slattern said still in the shadows.
"Show yourself!" Undertow demanded.
Slattern then steps out of the shadows, and his intimidating appearance had Undertow, Cloak and Dagger slightly backed away.
"Come now, if wanted to attack you, I would've had it taken care of by now." Slattern said. "I am Slattern. King of the Ocean."
"King?" Undertow said and scoffed. "Everyone knows it's that annoying Triton who's king."
"Not for much longer." Slattern said. "I've come to have you join me in my army to attack Atlantica and Eric's kingdom. Interested?"
Undertow, Cloak and Dagger glanced each other.
"We're listening." Undertow said.
"Good, now, with you in my army, together, we'll attack Atlantica and I'll make sure you'll get what you want." Slattern said. "As we have 1 thing in common: Revenge on Triton."
Undertow, Cloak and Dagger then grinned evilly.
"I believe you got yourself a deal." Undertow said.
The next day, Ariel and Melody were out swimming through the ocean. At the moment they were swimming in a bay just several miles down the coastline from home.
Melody then leaped out of the water enjoying herself.
"What a totally cool feeling!" Melody said.
Melody giggled as she swam around through the water.
"Whee!" Melody said.
She giggled more as she swam to the surface, and swam on her back with her eyes closed enjoying herself. But wasn't paying attention where she was going as she then suddenly bumped into something hard as Melody gasped a little startled. She turned to see what it was as it was a great blue shape as it shifted a little.
"Oh, excuse me." Melody said. "I'm so sorry, ma'am."
"Melody?" Ariel said appearing. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I just..." Melody said and froze.
She and Ariel then saw the blue object moving as a spouting sound was and an enormous tail, 17 feet across, was lifted out of the water and then dips down under the surface. Ariel and Melody then dove under trying to see what it is, and then they were completely in awe of what they were seeing.
As a great blue leviathan gently emerges from the blue coming into view.
Nothing symbolizes Melody's relationship with the high seas better than the Blue Whale.
Ariel and Melody watched in pure amazement as the ocean titan gently glides through the water.
"A Blue Whale." Melody gasped.
"Come on, let's follow her." Ariel said.
They begin to follow her, and the 2 mermaids were minnows compared to her as she doesn't mind them. And Melody almost felt she was dreaming of swimming with the whale. She was so big compared to them, her flippers alone were over twice as long as Ariel.
Weighing 200 tons and 100 feet long, these are the largest animals ever to have existed.
Yet much of their lives is still a mystery even to merpeople.
"I can't believe we're swimming with a Blue Whale." Melody said feeling she was in a dream she didn't want to wake up from.
"She truly is beautiful, isn't she?" Ariel said.
"Yeah." Melody said. "Have you seen ever one?"
"A few times before." Ariel said.
During her time growing up in Atlantica, Ariel occasionally sees a few migrating Blues swim by. But never had the idea where they mostly go, and for good reason.
They followed alongside the whale as she surfaced and spouts a jet of mist from her blowhole as it rose 20 feet into the air.
Blue Whales live far out to sea, roaming every ocean from the tropics to the poles.
As they swam with the ocean giant, Melody couldn't help but fascinate herself as the whale looked like she was showing a sky blue glow in the water.
But there are a few special places where they come close to shore.
As this gulf was one of them.
The Blue Whale then lifts her enormous tail fluke out of the water, and dives down as the fluke lowers down and vanished underwater.
"Hey, Mom, why do you think she's here?" Melody wondered.
"I... I don't know." Ariel said. "But I'm sure if we stick with her for long enough we might know why."
Ariel and Melody continue swimming alongside with the whale as she gently rose up to the surface causing little disturbance in the water. And then blasted a jet of mist from her blowhole as they were so close to her they can even hear her taking a new breath of air as the blowholes soon closed as she dove back under. But Ariel and Melody have little idea that they were about to witness and discovery something truly breathtaking.
This is a sanctuary for Blue Whales.
As they swim alongside with the whale, Melody suddenly noticed something underneath her.
"Hey, Mom, what's that?" Melody asked.
Ariel saw noticed what her daughter was looking at.
"I'm not sure." Ariel said trying to make it out.
They stared at the object as it looked like a fin-like appendage. And then they saw it moving as it starts to move out from under the whale, and then appearing from underneath her and from the blue came a head as the whale surfaced and huffs a spouts as Ariel and Melody gasped as they saw something truly enchanting.
As they meet the world's biggest newborn...
A smaller version of the whale surfaced and spouts a jet of mist revealing to be a calf.
A baby Blue.
"Oh, she has a baby." Melody gasped.
"A big baby as well." Ariel giggled.
Just a month old, she's already 26 feet long and weighs 6 tons.
Ariel and Melody watched as the calf dives back under, and swam underneath her gigantic mother as she held her 12-foot right flipper over her.
Her mother shelters her with a protective fin.
"Wow, have you ever seen a Blue Whale baby before?" Melody asked her mother.
"No, never this small." Ariel said.
Ariel has seen young Blue Whales before, but the smallest ones she seen were only half-grown ones. Even she has never seen a Blue that young and small before.
Ariel and Melody gently swam alongside the whales watching the heartwarming scene as the calf passionately rubs her body against her mother. Almost like how any child would do to seek comfort from their mother.
They caress one another, cherishing their close bond.
The mother whale surfaced and spouts taking a new breath of air as Ariel and Melody can tell the calf does seem shy of them. As they are likely the first mermaids she has seen in her life.
These are the most beautiful and breathtaking scenes a mermaid has ever seen of a Blue Whale mother and her calf.
The Blue calf soon surfaced and took a breath as she spouts through her blowhole, and soon dove down again.
Ariel and Melody gently swam alongside near the mother's head as she surfaced and takes a new breath of air.
This female will give birth only once every 2 or 3 years, so each baby Blue is extremely precious.
The mother Blue soon dives down again.
As Ariel swam alongside near the calf, she couldn't help but remember how small Melody used to be. And yet in comparison, Melody was barely a fifth of the size of the calf's flipper when she was a month old. And she was amazed how a creature as big as a Blue Whale can even be such a caring and loving mother, as even Melody was amazed by it.
And she and Melody know that the small whale has a lot of growing ahead of her. And they can have little idea that in 15 years or so, she could be as large as her mother.
The calf will grow 3 tons a month.
The calf surfaced near the 2 mermaids as spouts a breath of air as she appears to be warming up to them. And she dives under as her mother surfaced and spouts a jet of mist and takes a new breath as she went under again.
Ariel and Melody gently swam alongside the 2 whales as they swam by the calf and Ariel gently reaches out almost touching the calf's chin. And the calf and her mother rose to the surface and spouted a jet of mist from their blowholes, took in a new breath and dove under again.
The calf soon surfaced again and blasts a jet of mist from her blow, takes another breath and dives under.
Ariel and Melody swam near the calf, but she still looks a little shy towards them.
"She seems a little shy with us." Melody said.
"I'm sure she'll warm up to us soon." Ariel said and then had an idea. "Wait, maybe if we try singing to her."
"Sing?" Melody wondered.
"Yes." Ariel said. "It's how they talk to each other."
"Hmm." Melody pondered.
Melody wasn't completely sure it would work, but did thought it was worth a try still. She then gently started humming hoping it would get the calf's attention, and then, the calf looked as she heard something turns towards the 2 mermaids.
"I think it's working." Melody softly said.
The calf then moans a similar tune mimicking Melody's hum, and she curiously started swimming up to them. Her mother turns back to her, seeing her calf slowly approaching the 2 mermaids, but saw no concern from either of them. But still kept a watchful eye like how any mother would.
Melody hums more as the calf moans a similar note. And slowly swam towards her.
"That's it, take it slowly." Ariel softly said. "Be sure to let her come to you."
Melody continued humming as she gently reach her left hand out, and waited as the calf nears her. And soon, the calf gently pressed her chin on Melody's hand as she gasped in amazement. Even Ariel was amazement by it.
"Wow, hi." Melody said to the calf gently stroking her snout. "Oh, you're beautiful."
The calf then made a small bellow-like call, and then turns and swims off as if she was playing. And Melody laughed playfully and followed her.
Look out, sea
This is me
The calf then made a shallow leap out of the water and splashes back in the water.
Here I am
The calf leaps out of the water as Melody leaps clear out of the water as Ariel followed.
For a moment all of me
They swam through the water with the whale.
Is alive and at home in the sea
The calf then twirls as Melody swam underneath and swam several loop de loops around her.
I'm swirling and twirling
So graceful and grand
Not stubbing my toes
Getting stuck in the sand
For a moment life is cool
(Ooooooooooohhh)
Melody then leaps out of the water and high into the air and falls back into the water.
I'm a splash in the world's biggest pool
(Ooooooooooohhh)
This is more than my thoughts ever thought it could be
She and Ariel then did a few back-flips as they swam.
For a moment
(Aaaaaaaaaaahhh)
Just a moment
Lucky me
Melody giggled as she swam off.
And only for 1 moment
I had shared with you all I know
The sea wouldn't be a mystery
Everything's newer and brighter and bluer
And truer to life than before
Melody then swam underneath the mother whale.
Watch me soar
For a moment
(Ooooooooooohhh)
I can shine
Got a grin and fin that works fine
(Aaaaaaaaaaahhh)
My fingers are wrinkly and I really don't care
If all of my curls have curled out of my hair
Melody twirled around a few times as the calf rose up as Melody rested on her back.
For a moment
(Aaaaaaaaaaahhh)
I can feel
(Ooooooooooohhh)
All the dreams I've been dreaming are real
The calf rose up to the surface with Melody on her back, as well as the mother with Ariel on her as both whales spouted a jet of mist. And Melody held her locket.
And my mother can hear it
The sea is my song
For a moment
Just a moment
I belong
I have found you my darling
And the moment that I did
I'll hold you close my Melody
And sing the song of the sea
With you
Sing the song of the sea
For a moment
Just a moment
With you
I belong
The calf spouts a jet of mist and takes a breath of air and dives under again.
Soon, this calf will leave these sheltered waters to roam the high seas.
Ariel and Melody swam alongside with the calf and gently place a hand on her side as they swam by her.
Melody once thought that the high seas were simply too vast for anyone to damage, but she has little idea that her ocean home is under threat as never before.
Ariel and Melody watched as the calf soon swims off with her mother, as this was a moment they will never forget.
Miles away out into the open sea, a Minke Whale swims near the surface as it heads south to warmer waters. And it was swimming just a couple miles from Atlantica.
But the whale had little idea, that it was being watched.
Hiding in the depths, a large figure stalks the whale as hiding in the darkness...
Was Slattern.
He deciding to do a little target practice and warm up before the big attack.
His favorite hunting tactic is to come from below and behind his potential prey.
The whale continues on still unaware it was being stalked.
As Slattern begins to close in on the whale, he descends in order to surprise him from below. When he's just below the whale, he changes direction and picks up speed as he turns upward.
Slattern then makes a sharp dive, building momentum and swiftly heads up.
With sudden fury, Slattern strikes.
Slattern erupts from the depths roaring with his hand claws out ready to end the whale.
Then a bone-chilling crunch fills the water, and soon the water turns red with blood.
The whale, never stood a chance.
Soon, no living thing in the ocean, will be safe.
"Once, there were more than 300,000 Blues Whales, but last century, they were hunted relentlessly, and only a few thousand survived. Blue Whales are now protected, and their numbers are slowly increasing."
David Attenborough - Our Planet: The High Seas
Author's Note:
Seeing a Blue Whale would truly be an extraordinary encounter. But even more special of seeing a mother and calf. I still can never get enough of the Blue Whale scene from Our Planet.
I believe one of the reasons Melody loves the ocean is that it's full of life. And it's like exploring another world.