"I know.", Zuri smiled as she kissed Ariel. "I get the honest feeling that both of them will look like a mix of all three of us in some way, shape or form.".
Eric chuckled, "I can believe that...Wow...I'm a father...", furrowing his hand through his hair in awe and amazement. "Well, not just, Eric.", Zuri reminded. "We've got to wait until they're born for that to happen.".
"Don't be so semantic, mom.", Logan teased as Zuri blushed. Despite not being the one to give birth to them; those twins would be her children.
Amelia replied, "Well, looks like a slight change of plans. Ariel has to stay on the ship during the rescue/invasion.", and Ariel looked a bit offended, "Amelia, I practiced swordfighting with most of you guys already!".
Emma pointed out, "But not professionally...Look, Ariel, you are a mother now, even if the babies are young still, and you know Eric will go berserk if someone sneaks up on you, harming you and the babies...".
Eric exhaled deeply, "She's right, Ariel...The twins are our miracles...And besides, you will have company in Max and Morph, and they are fiercely loyal, if not protective already if they already sensed that you are pregnant.". Max and Morph barked as to prove Eric's point.
"It might be better that you stay behind too, if you wish.", Emma suggested to Eric. "After all, it's a bit better that someone fairly well trained to fight should stay behind... just to make sure we have a ship to come back to if we're successful.".
Eric looked determined, hearing that, "Yes, ma'am.", and Zuri exhaled, "I will be hiding in the waters in my dragon form to protect the ship, if the Kraken hasn't sensed anything wrong yet.".
Ariel sighed, giving in with a smile, "You two are stubborn. The twins are happy...Too bad they aren't kicking or punching yet.", caressing her belly, seeing that there's a barely visible baby bump.
John nodded, "That leaves the rest of us to fight the Coachman, his goons, destroy the shield, probably roast the amusement park, rescue the prisoners, fight the Kraken if he's aware...And of course, dark magic...Piece of cake.", with a huff.
"When you put it all like that...", Jason shook his head. "We just take it a moment at a time. Maybe we'll get lucky and avoid the Kraken.", Pippa said.
"Speaking of which... John, Amelia... do you two have an idea about this thing?", Emma asked. The Talons had a feeling that the Kraken, more than likely, was the same one from the second Pirates film, but who could really know in this world.
Amelia sighed heavily, "Bear with us. We only have heard rumors and such from the ports and all over the years. The Kraken is supposed to be as long as two ships and a half with all its tentacles. The tentacles are strong enough to rip people's faces off and destroy any ship with enough force. And they say that it's afraid of Triton's Trident for some reason, but it is supposed to be made of dark magic.".
John nodded, "Aye. When I was a prisoner back on the Jolly Roger, I heard things around the crew, and even Captain Hook. The Kraken can sink any ship to the depths of the sea, and it's supposed that the Kraken enjoys eating whales and dolphins, and the humans are only appetizers...Why, there was a rumor that the Kraken had a rivalry with the infamous Monstro...".
"Please tell me that thing isn't around too.", Jason bit his lip. "No, Monstro, I hear, tends to swim in the deep oceans, rather than shallower seas like the Kraken tends to reside in.", John explains.
"Good, the kraken is bad enough...", Jason muttered. Amelia replied, "Though, there was a recent rumor that Monstro's dead somehow, thanks to a puppet-turned boy and his father. But I don't know if that's true...".
Adam replied, "I could check in the mirror. Monstro is not dark magic, right?", and Amelia nods, "He was rather a very large, carnivorous whale, that's all. He swallows small ships whole.".
Adam pulled out the mirror and asked for Monstro, and blinks, "Whoa, that's nasty...Looks like he's an entire feast for everyone. He's already rotting..." and turns the mirror to the others to see.
"Pity the Kraken couldn't do the job and take him with him.", Zuri sighed. "It is what it is.", Emma said. "We'll just hope we can sneak past the Kraken, if we can't, we'll take it on all the same.".
Jasmine blinks, "Amelia, did you say that the Kraken is afraid of King Triton's trident?", and Amelia nods, "Yes, I did. Why?".
"Well, he's the King of the seas, isn't he? And if he knows that Ariel's alive, he could come out of his grief, and help out!", Jasmine replies with a grin
Everyone looked at each other as Ariel slapped herself in the head, "Why didn't I think about that sooner?". The whole group sighed. "Well, then it's probably best we get to Triton and get his help?", Jason asked.
"Depends on if we have to get sidetracked again. We're fairly close to Pleasure Island already...", John said as Jason bit his lip. He hated that Mulan might have to wait for him for so long, if she was even alive, how much hope did she have left?
"Plus, there's the fact that we probably should inform Triton ahead of time about Ariel's return.", Eric said. "Springing her on him... might cause some nasty problems.".
Emma replied, "I can do my portals. Eric knows Triton himself, and there must be some sort of message signal with him and Triton at the shoreline.".
Eric exhales, "Adam, is there any place, like an inlet or something, to keep hidden, so we can anchor the ship? After all, Triton would need proof that Ariel is alive...Plus he would need to be sure that he's leaving Atlantica in safe hands.", as Adam went to check through the mirror.
Ariel smiled softly, "Eric, do you remember the secret I told you about?", and Eric widened his eyes, and nodded, "That would work brilliantly as only he and your family knew about it.".
"Indeed. And my eldest sister, Attina has been training to be Queen for ages, so she would be great as Queen-in-training for the time being.", Ariel replied with a smile, and then Adam said, "There's a tiny islet, enough to hide the ship, but only on one side. The other side is exposed to Pleasure Island by only a day.".
"Well, with Hook out of the way, the Island is more or less blind, right?", Logan asked. "Unless the Coachman can chat with the Kraken.", Zuri reminded. "Either way, this might be our best option.", John said.
Amelia glanced at Delbert, "What do you think, Delbert?", and Delbert mused thoughtfully, "The logistics is plausible. And I am not one to abandon a mission when we're close. After all, with Hook dead, and Facilier dead as well, the Coachman would be getting more frustrated and desperate. After all, who knows if he has a schedule and all?".
Amelia nods, "Then that settles it. If everyone agrees, say 'aye', and if not, say 'nay'.", and the whole crew said 'aye'. Amelia grins, "I'll drive this time. Adam, come up and guide me. I'd rather not miss it.".
Adam nods, "Yes, ma'am.", and Emma smiles, "I will make a portal to Zaren. It's up to you then, Eric. Oh, portal traveling is fine for pregnant women as I experienced it myself, but I prefer you'd not do that, Ariel. Eric is right. Springing you immediately on Triton, he would think that he was dead or something...".
"Or a cruel joke.", Eric added. "But I think I know what to do. Of course, I might need one or two of you to back me up before we reveal Ariel to him.".
"Sounds like a plan.", Emma nodded as she closed her eyes. "Amelia, if you would be so kind as to sail ahead.".
Amelia saluted, "Yes, ma'am.", walking up the stairs to the wheel deck, with Adam behind her with the mirror in tow, and with directions, Amelia instantly set out to sail on to the islet.
Emma inhaled and exhaled as she created a portal, revealing the coastline that's just a bit ahead of the palace, and Emma smiled, "Alright, Eric. You first, and I'll be behind you after someone else comes along.".
Haku volunteered, "I'll come too. After all, I am the resident healer, and Ariel was kinda my patient as I was keeping an eye on her all this week after she returned to her body.". Emma nodded, "Alright, Haku. Everyone else, keep working, and Zuri, stay close to Ariel, eh?".
Zuri smiled, "Read my mind, chief. And besides, she is my wife. I ain't leaving her.", and Ariel squeezed her hand with a tender smile. Eric kissed his wives with a smile, and a gentle caress of Ariel's baby bump, "I'll be back soon, my dears.".
The group soon went through as Emma kept close to Eric. "So, how exactly do we get to the kingdom from here?", Eric chuckled, "You'll be surprised, I'm sure. But there is one way to get there that doesn't involve being a merman or mermaid.".
Haku raised an eyebrow, "So, like passing the message to a fish or something?", and Eric chuckled, "A bit more elaborate, Haku.", as he led the way to a small lagoon within a cove, "This used to be my and Ariel's favorite place, and Triton gave me permission to bury her here.", pointing to a spot in the shallows where there was an intentional bed of kelp in the sand, and now the kelp is pretty much gone, the spot of sand all smoothed over thanks to the tide.
Eric exhaled, "Ariel's truly real now. No evidence of her burial anymore.", with a slightly shocked face, but smiled happily, knowing that Ariel is back with Zuri on the ship, probably fawning over the twins.
Emma whistled, "The ritual truly erases everything of death. Good to know.", and Haku commented, "So, how do we get the king's attention?".
Eric smiled and walked to a bed of rocks in the tide and picked up an instrument that is mashed up somehow of a harmonica and a large conch shell and laid it in his hands as he knelt in the water, submerging the instrument, and Eric blew.
It was muffled, but Emma and Haku heard it as it was loud almost like a singing whale and a modern horn combined.
"That's new.", Emma whispered to Haku as he nodded. The two of them waited for a few moments before the waters outside the lagoon began to start bubbling. "Is that someone coming or is it transport?", Haku asked as the bubbling continued.
Eric grinned softly, "Transportation for Triton.", as the bubbling stopped, and out of the waters, surfacing is an orca harnessed to a large seashell, and there, on the seashell is King Triton.
King Triton is strong and impressionable as ever as Emma and Haku remembers from the movies, but otherwise, he looks bittersweet and weary, and somehow, older, as his hair is no longer white as snow, but like dull like ghost white.
"The years have been rough.", Haku whispered back to Emma as the two of them kept their distance. Eric took a step forward before bowing.
"King Triton... it's... it's been a long time.", Eric said as Triton nodded. "Indeed, it has, Eric.", he looked at Emma and Haku for a moment before looking back to Eric. "What has happened? I know you would never call me unless something... very bad has happened. Is your kingdom under siege now?".
"No, thankfully not. The war has actually turned well in favor to those who align themselves with the light than the dark. In fact, all that remains is Frollo. All the other dark rulers and commanders lie dead; thanks to some of the most amazing folks I've ever met. Your majesty, this is Emma and Haku, two members of the United Talons who had almost single handedly turned the tide of the war on the surface."
Emma and Haku bowed before King Triton, and King Triton nods, "I'm honored to meet you. If Eric trusts you, I'll trust you. I have heard from your manservant, Grimsby that you had left to help out in a mission, Eric. Pleasure Island...Tsk, the Kraken's territory lies there.".
Eric exhaled, "Yes, I have heard the rumors about the Kraken from my captains on the ship. Emma here, she is excellent with portals, so she has taken me back to ask you for your help.". King Triton looks surprised, "It's true that the Kraken is afraid of my Trident's great power for it is used for good, not dark magic like the Kraken is made of...But I am otherwise busy...I have been searching for the people who dared intruded in this cove while you were gone, stealing my daughter, Ariel's body...".
Eric blinked, "The alarm detected the event?", remembering when Triton told him that he had put an alarm on the burial spot itself in case if Ariel's body was disturbed disrespectfully. King Triton nodded, "It had, almost four days ago...I swam as fast as I could...She was gone...I asked Grimsby, and he has told me that the town was never told of the cove or anything else for your sake, Eric.".
Eric looked back to the group for the moment before looking back at Triton. "Well, actually, your majesty... no one intruded... and no one stole the body. At least, not in the way you think it." Eric took a deep breath. "I know you probably won't believe me when I first say this... but the reason why the body is gone... is because life had been restored to it."
There was a moment of silence before Emma took a step forward, "Your majesty... our group has, through our journey, gained considerable strength and magical powers. Some powers that even we were unaware until just the other day, but...".
King Triton frowned mightily, "I would understand magical powers and I have heard the rumor of you all being dragon shapeshifters, but how did this happen?", and Emma took a deep breath, "We did a ritual around the triad of Eric, Zuri, and Ariel in a mindscape, or more specifically, Zuri's mindscape as they were getting married.".
Eric smiled, "It was the most beautiful thing ever, your majesty...And when we finished, Ariel was right there, in the flesh, alive...As one of my wives...Not long ago before we came here, she asked me to tell you a secret that only she and your family knew, for she had confessed it to me in our courtship years ago.".
Taking a deep breath, Eric continued, "You wanted to experience pregnancy yourself, by having special potions. You were carrying a child, and it died stillborn, thanks to Ursula who harmed you greatly, hence why you banished her to the dark side of the depths of the sea. It was a boy, and you wanted to name him Tyne, for you created him with your wife when you were visiting your grandfather, Poseidon via rivers and Enchanted Lake at Mount Olympus.".
Triton was frozen to his core for the next moment. "She thought it was the best way to convince you; but I understand if that's not enough. After all, she may have told me that before she died. But I promise you; it's the truth. I would never dare lie about this; you know that.", Eric said.
The next moment, Triton gave a half-choked sob, "He would have been Ariel and my other daughters' brother...Athena was there all the way in my grief, and it was Attina's birth that helped me heal from it all, but I would never forget...Ariel was told when she was 15...The city never knew...Only the family knew...Ariel trusted you enough to tell...", swallowing, and looking straight at Eric, "I believe you, Eric...".
Eric nodded somberly, "Thank you, your majesty. I apologize for bringing the past back to you.", and Triton shook his head, "You don't need to apologize, Eric. It had happened so long ago. I would never thank you enough for ridding me of Ursula.", with a wipe of his eyes, and an anxious smile, "Where is my daughter now?".
"She's with my wife.", Eric chuckled. "Ariel, Zuri and I all married each other. It's a bit of a story and all with the mindscape and all, but she's nearby and we just wanted to tell you ahead of time and all before bringing her to you. Less of a shock to the system and all, if that's the phrase.". He looked to Emma and Haku.
Haku laughed, "You got it right, Eric. I couldn't have said it better.", and Emma smiled softly, "We're going to anchor sooner or later to an islet a day before Pleasure Island, staying hidden. We're waiting for you to make sure of a few things for Atlantica here before we could bring you to the shallows to reunite with Ariel, thanks to my portal gift. She recommended Attina to be Queen-in-training, that is if you want to help out in our battle with Pleasure Island. You might tangle with the Kraken.".