A few days later, a royal guard played a trumpet as the victims of the attack have been gathered and identified in caskets as the villagers gathered around their fallen friends or family.
Many of them, loved ones as some broke into tears. And a young woman with brown hair and eyes named Laurel was by a casket holding her father, who sadly died protecting her during the attack from a fire blast from Smaug. Laurel was a good friend to Ariel, she once gave Laurel singing lessons when she was 8.
Even Ariel was heartbroken was hearing what has happened.
Close by, Dorie in his sailor uniform went over to the casket of his ship's captain.
"Hey, Captain." Dorie said and saluted.
Melody hugged Laurel as Ariel turns to Dorie and he respectfully nodded his head.
The next day, Ariel and Melody visited Atlantica for the funeral of the victims as Ariel was heartbroken that nearly half of the citizens she knew are gone.
Over these last few days, things for Atlantica have been extremely tough. Triton is still injured from the fight from Slattern, he has only been able to stay awake for few minutes. The last time he was up, it was for 20 minutes, and asked Attina to be acting queen till he is fully recovered. She seems to be doing okay so far, but Ariel can see she seem terrified on the inside of trying to maintain peace and keeping everyone calm.
Later at night, Ariel couldn't bring herself to sleep.
She then sat up and turns to her sisters as they were asleep.
She then sighed and swam out of the room wanting to check on Melody.
Ariel soon got to the room where Melody was staying, but saw her bed was empty.
"Melody?" Ariel looked around.
She left the room and soon saw Sebastian.
"Sebastian, have you seen Melody?" Ariel asked.
"Oh, I saw her swimming off." Sebastian said. "She said was heading to the surface to clear her head."
"Thanks." Ariel said.
She swam through a window and upward to the surface as Sebastian watched her go.
Ariel soon reached the surface and looked around trying to work out where Melody could be.
And then she had 1 idea where Melody might be, and swam off.
After a few minutes, she some rocks sticking out of the water. As she swam closer, she soon saw Melody sitting hugging her tail looking sad.
"Melody?" Ariel said.
Melody then turned to her mother. "Oh. Hi, Mom." She wiped a tear away.
"Are you okay?" Ariel asked pulling herself up onto the rock.
Melody sniffled a bit. "I don't know. I just... can't seem to get my head straight. I feel like everything's all messed up."
Ariel can slightly feel something was truly bothering Melody.
"I know." Ariel said. "Everything's all a huge mess. But, I know that we'll somehow get through this. And-"
"How would you know?!" Melody suddenly said breaking down into tears. "We almost lost Grandfather, our homes were attacked! And... and..." She cried more.
"Oh, Melody." Ariel said gently hugging her daughter in comfort. "Easy, easy."
"I'm scared." Melody said hugging her mother.
"Shh, shh. I'm here." Ariel said soothingly.
Melody lightly whimpered.
"When I was holding that sailor's hand and he drowned, I was completely horrified." Melody said. "It... It... It reminded me of when I was trapped in that ice cave and nearly drowned myself. But what really terrified me was that we couldn't save them." She then sniffled. "Why do bad things have to happen?"
"I really don't know, sweetheart." Ariel said.
"Don't you wish there was a way to... turn the clock back when things were good?" Melody asked.
Ariel then sighed uneasily. "I don't know. With some things maybe."
Ariel then remembers late 1 night as a little girl when she was 5 as she swam through the palace.
But she then froze seeing her father all sad as Triton was by the statue of her mother, as it has been 7 months since Athena was crushed to death from a pirate ship. As Atlantica had fallen silent as well as with not just the loss of their queen, but with music being forbidden as well.
Not wanting to get in trouble, Ariel tries to sneak away but Triton soon noticed her.
"Ariel!" Triton said and clears himself. "You should be asleep."
"I had a bad dream." Ariel said uneasily timid by her father's tone.
Triton soon realized he was a little harsh on her and sighed. "Yeah, come here."
Ariel smiled and swam over to her father as Triton lifts her to his lap.
"Dad? Are you gonna get us a new mom?" Ariel uneasily asked.
Triton then hugs his youngest daughter tightly knowing it was hard for her as well for him without Athena and he kissed his daughter's head.
"I don't want another." Triton said. "Your mom was the only woman for me. She was the love of my life. But with love comes loss, dear. It's part of the deal. Sometimes it hurts, but in the end, it's all worth it." He then turns Ariel for her to face him. "There's no greater gift than love."
Triton smiled at his daughter.
Ariel lightly smiled from the memory as it was one of the last times she ever saw him truly smile after Athena died.
"Melody, listen to me." Ariel said. "I know life can't go the way we want, but I know we'll through this somehow."
"Do... Do you really think so?" Melody asked.
"Hey, if we each defeated 2 crazy witches, then surely we'll find a way through this." Ariel said.
Melody lightly smiled as they looked at the stars, and among was the Constellation known as Draco.
The next day, things were still relatively quiet in Atlantica.
Just outside the kingdom's border, Tunip was out collecting some sea plants humming a bit. A shadow appeared above him as he looked up and saw it was a passing bull Sperm Whale. These giants are regular visitors to Atlantica, females live in close family pods with their young, while males spend most of their lives alone.
His skin was also littered with battle scars left from battles with deep-sea monsters and other bull whales, showing he was a veteran fighter of the ocean. His right fluke fin even bares an old bite-mark left from a Killer Whale when he was a calf.
Tulip watched the whale swim off, and then a small flicker of light was seen.
"Huh?" Tunip frowned.
He swam over to the flicker, and got to an object in the sand. He lifts it out from the sand and saw it looked like a piece of armor with a symbol on it. He then gasped as it he recognized it as he seen something like it on the armor plating of the sharks and other creatures that attacked the kingdom.
He then quickly swims back to Atlantica.
But he then saw Melody close by collecting some shells likely trying to get her mind off the attack and her injured grandfather.
"Melody! Melody!" Tunip said swimming over to her.
"Tunip, what are you doing here?" Melody asked. "What's this?"
"Daba-daba sheeb da-do." Tunip chirped.
Melody was still learning Vegimal speak, but she did made out what he said.
"An armor piece from those creatures in the army?" Melody said. "Are you sure?"
"Bretta do." Tunip nodded.
"Come on, we gotta show this to the others." Melody said.
They then swam off.
In the palace's throne room, Attina was pacing looking all concern.
She then turned to her father's trident in it's stand, she went over to it and removed from the stand. Trying to see herself as a queen, she knew she'd fill her father's place one day, she has being getting teaching lessons for it, but it was put on hold since she had Tara and her brother, Atlan.
She then sighed and looked up.
"How am I gonna do this, Mom?" She asked.
She then placed the trident back in it's stand as Ariel came in, and saw how concern she looked.
"Attina, are you okay?" Ariel asked.
"I don't know, Ariel." Attina said unsure of herself. "I'm not sure if I can handle watching Atlantica with Dad in his condition right now."
"Attina, Dad wouldn't have chosen anyone else for it." Ariel said.
"I know, but how am I suppose to keep everyone safe?" Attina said. "Those things could come back soon." She then sighed. "How am I suppose to look after a kingdom and family and keep them safe?"
Ariel felt sad for Attina knowing it was hard for her, she too had that same fear for the last 12 years with Morgana on the loose knowing she could come back at anytime.
"I know the feeling well." Ariel said. "And that choice I made 12 years ago should have never happened."
"I wish Mom is here still." Attina said.
"Me too." Ariel said.
"Mom! Mom!" Melody said.
They turned and saw Melody rushing into the throne room with Tunip.
"Melody, what is it?" Ariel asked.
"Tunip found something just outside Atlantica." Melody said. "It was something from that army."
Tunip then showed them the armor piece as Ariel took it, and Attina then noticed the symbol as she looked she recognized it.
"Wait, I think I've seen this symbol before." Attina said.
"You have?" Ariel frowned.
"We better find Sebastian." Attina said.
They soon met up with Sebastian as he looked at the symbol.
"I thought that symbol looked familiar." Sebastian said and quickly crawls off.
"What is it?" Melody asked.
Sebastian soon came back with a rolled scroll.
"It's the symbol from that kingdom." Sebastian said.
The scroll was unrolled and showed the same symbol which was a reptilian creature with dorsal plates.
"Well, your father has thought this day would come eventually." Sebastian said. "But, it seems that the lost kingdom has returned."
"What?" Ariel stared.
"You mean the kingdom from Dad's story?" Attina said.
Sebastian then nodded.
"Wait a minute, what are you talking about?" Melody asked not sure what was happening.
A few minutes later, Sebastian came back with another scroll.
"In a distant part of the ocean, in the far north, stood an ancient kingdom." Sebastian explained. "And it had a great ruler. Him." He gestured to the symbol of the creature. "An ancient alpha creature. His name was... Gojira."
The scroll was unrolled showing an image of the creature indicting Gojira.
"A monster." Melody said.
"In some ways." Sebastian said. "He was king there. And he-"
"Gave life everywhere he goes." Ariel said remembering the story.
"Yes." Sebastian said.
"But... it was that hammerhead creature that was leading them." Ariel said. "Slattern, was it?"
"That's his name." Sebastian said. "But he's not what you think he is."
"A false king." Attina said.
"But, why would Slattern lead an attack on us?" Melody asked.
"I really don't know." Sebastian said. "But one of the times I was talking to Triton, he told me that Slattern said of a false king now retired and... decommissioned."
"Slattern must've done something to him." Ariel said.
"Where is this kingdom?" Attina asked.
"Somewhere hidden in the far north." Sebastian said. "But it's too dangerous for merpeople there."
"But we can't just sit here waiting for Slattern to come back with another attack." Melody said. "We have to do something."
"Oh, no!" Sebastian said. "Going there will be having your death warrant signed!"
"But what about Gojira?" Ariel asked.
"Ariel... if Slattern has taken over and claims what he said about him." Sebastian said uneasily. "He might be truly gone."
"We don't know that for sure." Ariel said. "Let's send some search parties out, try to find him."
"Ariel, it's a big ocean." Attina said. "He could be anywhere."
"Oh, Attina, not you too." Ariel said.
"I'm sorry, Ariel, there's not much of a choice." Attina said.
She then turns and swims away.
Melody then sighed. "Now what?"
"Your father once said that nature has an order." Sebastian said. "A power to restore balance." He turns to Gojira's image. "He believed he was that power."
Late at night, everyone in Atlantica was asleep.
Almost everyone.
In one of the halls, Ariel quietly swam through keeping a careful eye incase someone was coming. She peaked at the next hall, and saw the coast was clear and swam as she looked back. Not noticing someone else was having the same idea as her.
Melody was swimming with her back turned towards her mother, they soon bumped into each other and quickly turn to one another.
"Mom!/Melody!" They said in unison quietly. "What are you doing here? You're sneaking out? How'd you know? Stop it!"
They soon couldn't help but chuckled.
"Melody, look." Ariel said. "It's too dangerous for you to come. I have to do this on my own."
"But I can't just let you go yourself." Melody said.
Ariel then uneasily sighed. "There's really no way of talking you out of this, is there?" She asked.
"Not really." Melody said.
Ariel shook her head. "I swear, there are times where I... Alright, we better get going now."
They then swam off.
Several minutes later, They were almost out of Atlantica as they were near the main entrance.
"Okay, almost there." Ariel whispered.
They soon saw the coast was clear, and quietly swam off and soon made out of the city believing they were home free now.
"Just where do you 2 headstrong ladies think you're going?!" Said a familiar voice.
They both froze and nervously looked back seeing Sebastian with a demanding look.
"Hmm?" Sebastian inquired.
"Uh..." Melody had an uneasy look.
"If you 2 are thinking of going to find Gojira, even by some miracle he's alive." Sebastian said. "Then I... I wish you luck." His expression lowered.
"Wait, what?" Melody frowned.
"Huh?" Ariel thought she misheard him.
"You heard me." Sebastian said. "Get going. I couldn't stop you 2 even if I tried. I'll take the heat from Attina when she finds out."
"Oh, thanks, Sebastian." Ariel said and hugged him.
"But please, don't let me regret this." Sebastian sternly said.
"We won't." Melody promised.
Ariel set Sebastian down and they quickly swam off.
"Oh, those 2 are working on my last claw." Sebastian said shaking his head.
He then crawls back to the palace.
The next morning, the sun rose over the frozen sea of the polar region.
On a large ice floe, Ariel and Melody were asleep after arriving earlier in the night. They were soon awake and were about to heading into the water, when suddenly a jet of mist spouts into the air.
They then saw a number of white shapes in the water, and a shape was seen arching it's back as it dives down.
Ariel and Melody saw them, and then slid off the ice floe and swam over and saw it was a traveling pod of Beluga Whales.
The pod is traveling through the open leads of sea ice looking for new feeding grounds. They seem to be going the same direction Ariel and Melody are taking, and they decide to follow them as the Belugas head to areas to find Arctic Cod, their prefer food.
Belugas are normally shy and timid towards anything unusually in their area, but this pod occasionally sees mermaids every now and then.
Ariel and Melody followed the Belugas for several minutes before the pod took deep breaths, and begin to dive down in search of food.
They swam further up the lead, and were soon accompanied, by another pod of Arctic nomads.
Narwhal.
The Narwhal pod was leaving the ice-covered sea to head to open water before the sea ice freezes completely. Whales often sometimes become trapped in sea ice during the winter months, so some are taking advantage of the limited access of food before heading off for the winter.
Ariel and Melody watched as the Narwhals swam by, the pod being made of mothers and their young, a few males sporting a long tusk. And there was also something that truly surprised them.
A 2-tusked Narwhal.
Only 1 in 500 male Narwhals sport 2 tusks, and they he was an old-timer, covered in scars. He could well be over 100 years old.
"Whoa, I didn't think a Narwhal could have 2 tusks." Melody said amazed.
"Neither did I thought of it." Ariel said.
Soon, they left the Narwhals as they head further up the lead, and the Narwhals head to open water.
After a few minutes, Ariel and Melody have finally made it out of the ice lead as they swam into a more open area of water.
They soon surfaced and then a jet of mist spouts close by to them, and saw a great black shape and soon saw it was a group of 5 polar sea leviathans.
Bowhead Whales.
Up to 60 feet long, and weighing 100 tons, these are the only large whales that stay in the Arctic all year-round, throughout their entire lives.
Ariel and Melody watched as the Bowheads spout jets of mists and dove down as they too are looking for food. And the 2 mermaids dove down following them.
They're not after fish, they're seeking smaller prey.
Ariel and Melody followed the whales as one then opened it's gigantic mouth. Luckily, mermaid is not their menu. But, it's still best to keep clear of feeding giants.
Despite having the largest mouths in the Animal Kingdom, the size of a small garage, they eat tiny crustaceans: Copepods.
Ariel and Melody watched as the whales swam with opened mouths taking in any small creatures in their way.
Straining them from the water, with the 13 foot long strips of baleen that hang from their upper jaws. And the triangular shape of it's top jaw is how these whales earned their name. In the summer, they store enough energy to last them through the following winter. When food will be less abundant.
Bowheads also have a few tricks up their sleeve, or rather, flipper. Their thick heads and hard blubber, help them break through 2 feet of solid sea ice to get access for air. And it helps for heading one of the biggest heads of any creature.
The polar seas are also a refuge for whales, the sea ice makes it difficult for whaler ships to go after a whale without running the risk of damaging the ship's hull.
This is one of the few places, where whales are free from harpoons and human conflict.
And here, Bowheads live peaceful lives. They are the oldest-living mammals, living up to 200 years of age.
Eventually, Ariel and Melody left the Bowheads and explore through a maze of sea ice.
Sea ice may appear to be flat and lifeless, but beneath it there is another world.
Soon, they came across an area of sea ice where it was strangely green.
"Is the ice, green?" Melody frowned.
"It looks like it." Ariel said.
They swam over to a patch of ice for a closer look, and saw the green surface was actually a layer of algae.
As the sea ice melts, the light filters through, and algae, that have been trapped within the ice all winter, flourish.
"Sure is weird." Melody said.
"I know." Ariel said.
They then swam off.
This upside-down world is the polar equivalent of the great grasslands. The ice is the soil upon which plant life grows, and the herds of grazers soon arrive.
As Ariel and Melody swam through the fields of ice, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by a swarm of a small creatures.
Krill.
"Huh? Is these... krill?" Melody said.
"Yeah, lots of them." Ariel said.
They watched the krill swim around.
Trillions of them swarm in the waters around the sea. Protected by the ice above, they graze on algae whilst the sun shines.
Ariel and Melody watched with wonderous looks as the krill feed on the patches of algae. They had little idea this is the equivalent of the African Savanna with gazelles and zebras grazing.
But the good times don't last long.
Once all the ice has melted, the krill lose their protection, and predators appear.
Ariel and Melody eventually left the krill, and head out into open water, and came across a flock of Gentoo Penguins getting ready for a dive.
And some were diving down already.
Penguins may have lost their ability to fly, but they still form flocks, as so many birds do.
At the surface, the rest of the flock are getting ready to dive as Ariel and Melody surfaced near them.
The longer they dive, the longer it takes them to catch their breath.
They watched as the penguins ruffled their feathers.
Ruffling their feathers traps air, which makes their bodies more streamlined.
One last breath... and the whole group dives down together.
Soon, the flock begins to dive down.
Ariel and Melody watched them dive as they followed.
The Gentoos follow the krill down to depths of over 600 feet.
"These penguins sure are neat." Melody said.
"Sure are." Ariel said.
"I wonder where Tip and Dash are." Melody wondered.
"I'm sure we'll run into them soon, come on." Ariel said.
They then swam off as the Gentoos dive further down.
And here in the polar seas, there are other krill hunters.
As they come in all sizes.
What a flock can catch in 1 dive, a giant traps in a single mouthful.
Sometime later, Ariel and Melody were still heading north.
They swam at the surface as some krill leaped around them. And then, part of the water rose as then a large black shape lunges out of the water in front of them. And then blasts a jet of mist from it's blowhole revealing to be a Humpback Whale as it pounces down in the water creating a large splash.
Ariel and Melody were taken by surprise as the ocean giant thrashed a fin.
Humpback Whales from the tropics have traveled over 5,000 miles to get here.
Ariel and Melody went under swam alongside the whale.
This one chooses to feed alone.
They then watched as the whale lunges it's head out of the water again, and soon hits the water again.
"What's he doing?" Melody wondered.
"I think it's some sort of feeding skill." Ariel guessed.
This technique, part lunge, part pounce, only works when the krill are close to the surface.
Soon, Ariel and Melody came across other whales.
As more Humpbacks arrive, they begin to work in teams.
Soon, they watched 2 Humpbacks lunges at the surface on their sides taking great mouthfuls of water and krill.
By lunging together, the overspill from one huge mouth is not lost but collected by another.
Soon, Ariel and Melody were in for a show as they watched the Humpbacks continue to feed as they lunged at the surface taking mouthfuls of krill and water. They even watched a group of 4 Humpbacks lunging together, as one was a calf learning from it's elders. And the whales lunge more taking in the bounty of krill.
Some Humpbacks regularly work in an even more coordinated way.
A single Humpback blasts a jet of mist from it's blowhole, and another dives down lifting it's tail fluke up and soon vanished under the surface.
Ariel and Melody went under as they watched the whales dive down to catch up with the krill.
They do so when krill has descended to some depth.
The whales dove further down, and eventually, bubbles started rising to the surface near Ariel and Melody as seagulls above the water flew by.
Once in position, they blast air from their blowholes.
Ariel and Melody watched as the bubbles continue rising and start to form a large ring acting like a net.
Working together, they create a curtain of bubbles around their prey.
Ariel and Melody grew excited as they watched the bubble net form more.
As the spiraling net tightens, the krill are driven closer together, and then the whales lunge upwards and collect them.
Soon, the whales took great mouthfuls of water and krill as Ariel and Melody watched from close by in pure amazement. And seagulls flew around them trying to get some krill as well.
Almost all Humpback Whales in this part of the ocean come to the polar sea to feed on krill.
A Humpback dives down as the whales continued feeding.
With no threat from whalers, Humpbacks here are safe, and thrive peacefully here, but they have little idea of the growing threat upon them.
One Humpback held it's head over the water draining the water out of it's mouth. And soon lowers down as another whale lifts it's head over the water draining it's mouth.
With the growing threat from Slattern, no creature in the ocean will be safe.
No matter how far the distance they are.
Ariel and Melody soon left the feeding whales as 2 Humpbacks were by the surface, and a spout was heard close by from them.
A few hours later, the sun was still high, and Ariel and Melody swam through the sea heading north still. But they are now heading into more remote waters.
"We have got to be getting close." Melody said.
"Maybe, though there might be something ahead." Ariel said.
They continued swimming on as they soon got to an area of sea with no signs of life.
"It's creepy." Melody said. "Kooky."
"Mysterious." Ariel said. "Spooky."
Then suddenly a hydrothermal vent went off near them spewing black trails of boiling hot water that is hot as molten lead.
Ariel and Melody turn to each other, and soon head off having a feeling that they might be getting close.
After a few minutes, they were swimming over a vast seabed littered with thousands of whale bones. But most of the skeletons showed signs of heavy trauma, and some skulls showed heavily dented areas. A clear sign that this was a killing field, and likely a warning for creature not to venture beyond the boneyard.
Neither liked the sight one bit.
"Melody, stay close." Ariel said.
They continued on feeling that they were getting close.
Eventually, they got to a ridge of rock leading down into an undersea valley near a sea mount that rises even above the ocean. They then got down as a pair of Sea Dragons swam by and they watched swim off towards it.
"This must be it." Melody whispered.
They then carefully begin to enter the lost kingdom's borders as they stayed close by the rocks.
They soon made it to the main kingdom and watched as many armored sharks and marine reptiles swam around, acting as guards keeping watch. And Ariel and Melody noticed there wasn't any sign of other life like fish, or other creatures. Either this place was to remote, or that no form of life was welcome here.
They soon saw a deeper area and dove down near the base of the sea mount and soon got to the seafloor.
They then carefully peaked behind a ridge of rock and saw a carved-out entrance in the mountain with 2 armored Tylosaurus standing guard with hydro-guns.
"Think there's a way in?" Melody whispered.
"I'm not sure with those 2." Ariel said.
Then one of the Tylosaurs looked it heard something as they ducked back as it turns towards the ridge. It then had a suspicious look and slowly swims over to investigate.
Ariel and Melody kept dead quiet unaware of the giant reptiles approaching them.
The Tylosaurus nears the ridge and got to the bend and looked as it saw nothing there. The reptile then looked around as he was totally unaware that Ariel and Melody were literally right above him keeping dead still and quiet. They already seen how powerful these creatures were, levels of ferocity that made sharks look like guppies. These sea monsters were once the top predator in their day.
Soon, the Tylosaurus turns away and heads back to it's post, but not before stopping for a brief second noticing what looked like a small glimpse of red. The reptiles narrowed it's eyes and swims off.
Ariel and Melody remained silent for a few moments and were soon relieved of not being spotted.
But the ridge suddenly exploded knocking them back and hit the seabed.
The 2 Tylosaurus, Zilla and Scunner then approached them. As well as an armored Great White with hydro-guns aiming at them.
Zilla approached Melody was she was knocked out, and he grabs her.
Ariel soon recovered and saw Scunner standing over her.
"In the name of His Highness, King Slattern, I place you under arrest." He said.
He then swatted his left hand at her hard as Ariel hits a rock hard, and was soon knocked out.
Author's Note:
For those who were wondering about Laurel, she's a little girl from one of several Little Mermaid storybook collections, The Little Mermaid: The Secret of the Star Shell.
The Constellation Draco is a small reference for DragonHeart's 25th anniversary.
You might also notice another reference for another film that came out back in 1991.