Back in the world of Atlantica in a secluded area outside of the kingdom, the green oval of light appeared once again shining brightly and unleashing a strong whirlpool-like current once again. At the very same time, Garret came out of that oval of light and it closed behind him disappearing. He wasn't unconscious this time, but he felt a little dizzy.
"Geez... I really need to get used to that," he said. "It felt like I was riding some kind of wind tunnel. Or... in this case a water tunnel."
He then looked down at the lower part of his body and saw that his legs were once again a red gradient color of black merman's tail. He then pumped his fins and swam a couple feet to test it out.
"Looks like I haven't lost a beat when it comes to swimming with this thing," he said to himself. "But it still feels a bit weird."
He looked around trying to see where he was. It appeared to be the same location where Ariel and Flounder first taught him how to swim, only it was a few distances away. Garret then swam upwards. From up high, he could see where beautiful coral reefs and the various fish swimming about. Then he saw something in the distance. He could see two objects below him. Garret then swam closer and upon further inspection, he could see that two objects turned out to be Ariel and Flounder picking up some kind of strange large coconut-like things growing on a reef and throwing them at bubbles that were coming out of a crack popping them.
"Hey there Ariel. Hey Flounder," he said as he swam up to them.
"Oh. Hi Garret," spoke Ariel. "How are you feeling?"
"A lot better now," replied Garret. "What are you two doing?"
"Me and Ariel were playing a game called Bubble Pop," said Flounder. "We didn't want to bother you while you rested."
"Bubble Pop?" puzzled Garret. "I've never heard of that game before."
"Well it's pretty easy to play," said Ariel as she went over to pick up one of the coconut-like nut. "All you have to do throw one of these sea nuts at the bubbles that come out before they pop. If you pop one, you get a point. The only catch is that you can't use your hands, only your fins."
"Seems pretty interesting," Garret said thoughtfully. "Mind if I play too? I can use this as an opportunity to test how good I am with my tail."
"Sure. Just pick up a sea nut and start throwing," smiled Flounder as he threw a rock popping another bubble.
Garret then swam over and picked one off of the sea nut. He waited until a bubble floated up, then he launched his rock into the air and then smacked it using his tail. The sea nut shot forwards and then pierced right through a bubble.
"Wow! Nice shot Garret!" complemented Flounder.
"Yeah! Not bad for a first-timer," said Ariel.
Garret scratched his cheek feeling a bit embarrassed. "Aw shucks. It was just a fluke," he said.
The three continued to keep playing Bubble Pop having a quite a bit of fun. Garret especially was having a good time. Playing this game reminded him of a few sports back at home which made it all the more fun. Soon enough, they all had a fair share of points with Flounder having a slight lead.
"You're getting good at this game you two," spoke Ariel. "Especially you Flounder."
"Thanks, Ariel," smiled Flounder, "Hey you guys! Watch this one!"
As he went over to pick up another rock, Garret then saw someone swimming by. A certain red crab was now just coming back from doing his errand for King Triton.
"I hope de king's in a good mood today," he said to himself. "Sometimes he's even crabbier dan I am."
"Hey, Ariel. Isn't that Crabby over there?" asked Garret.
"Yes. It is," said Ariel now seeing him as well. "And his name is Sebastian."
Then they saw Flounder about to take aim and throw his rock. It was then that they realized that Sebastian was right in his line of fire.
"Flounder! No!" cried Garret. "You're gonna-!"
But he was a second too late. Flounder had already launched the rock making it head straight towards Sebastian.
"Sebastian! Look out!" called Ariel.
Luckily, Sebastian heard Ariel's warning and was able to swim up just in time for the rock to shoot right past him. However, one of the bubbles ended up enveloping his head slowly began lifting him up.
"Hey! Get me out of dis ting!" he yelled.
Ariel quickly swam up and managed to catch Sebastian before he could float any higher also popping the bubble setting him free. Sebastian was a bit dazed, but he was alright.
"Gee. Sorry about that Sebastian," apologized Flounder. "King Triton would have been mad if I had smashed his right-hand crab."
"Dat's true," chuckled Sebastian. "De king counts on me, like I was his fingers. Well, I'd better get back to de palace. De king can't find his crown without me."
He gave Flounder a sideways wink and then swam importantly away.
Flounder and Ariel were impressed.
"Whoa! Sebastian must be the most important crab in the whole kingdom," said Flounder.
Garret rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, Flounder. If you ask me, Sebastian's just being a big show off," he said. "Although... I am kinda curious as to what kind of job he does."
"Then why don't we find out?" asked Ariel. "Daddy's in his throne room right now and that's where Sebastian's headed. So why don't we watch and see what he really does?"
Flounder and Garret looked at each other and agreed. The three friends then swam back to Atlantica heading for the palace.
In the throne room just as Ariel said, King Triton was sitting in his throne with Sebastian off to the side ready and waiting to help whenever he was needed. The three friends spied through an opening on the roof watching and waiting to see what would happen. Sebastian looked around feeling a little bit bored. He happened to see some jellyfish carrying platters of pastries. He made sure that no one was looking and then took one and started munching on it.
Then he happened to look up and saw Ariel, Garret, and Flounder. Sebastian was a bit surprised to see them, but then he waved too. King Triton took notice of Sebastian waving and raised a questioning brow. Sebastian then hurriedly ripped some anemone and began dusting next him, so it would look like he was busy. Just then, something shot right past him like a rocket spinning him around and around. It was the orange seahorse with the purple ruff holding a small list.
"Hear ye, hear ye!" he proclaimed. "First item on the royal agenda, the semi-annual cleaning of the royal crown."
"I'll get dat for you, your majesty!" said Sebastian eagerly. "De royal crown can never be too clean, I always say."
He immediately swam over to King Triton and using the anemone began polishing his crown. Then there was trouble. In his haste of cleaning the crown, Sebastian tipped it upwards hoping to clean it underneath. However, he tipped it over too far causing the crown to fall right off of King Triton's head and onto the floor clinking and clanking as it bounced around.
Ariel and Flounder were worried while Garret snickered a little thinking that it was a little bit funny. King Triton on the other hand was not amused. He gave Sebastian a disapproving glare causing the poor little crab to squeak in terror. He immediately went after the crown and managed to catch it. Then he swam quickly back over and placed it back on his head. The orange seahorse cleared his throat again surveying the list.
"Next on the royal agenda, polishing the royal trident," he said.
"Oh! Allow me sire!" spoke Sebastian as he once again got eager to please his king.
He immediately went over to his trident and began polishing it.
"Sebastian no!" cried King Triton. "Don't touch that!"
But he was too late. The moment Sebastian started polishing it, the trident began to glow humming with power. It then shot a powerful blast which ricocheted around the room. Everyone who was in the room immediately took cover trying to avoid the blast. Even Ariel, Garret, and Flounder who were all outside had to stay well back in case the blast made its way outside.
King Triton then grabbed his trident and then held it up as if he was beckoning the blast to come to him. The blast bent towards the trident until it finally made contact creating a large burst of light. The trident absorbed the blast and dispersing it. No was hurt, but King Triton was growing somewhat impatient now.
"Proceed," he spoke to the orange seahorse.
The orange seahorse looked back at his list which now had a large hole in it, but it was still readable.
"Next on the royal agenda," he spoke. "The Sharkanian problem."
"Oh yes! I remember them," said King Triton. "My greatest wish is to make peace with the Sharkanians. I have been searching high and low tide for an expert on Sharkania. He would be my most prized advisor."
"Advisor?" whispered Sebastian to himself showing interest.
He looked up at Ariel, Garret, and Flounder who were wondering what he had planned. Not wanting to let them down and wanting to impress King Triton, Sebastian quickly spoke up.
"Oh, uh, your majesty! I myself am well-versed in de Sharkanian culture," he said.
King Triton was surprised. "Really Sebastian?"
"Oh my yes, I know Sharkania like de back of me own head," Sebastian spoke proudly. "In fact, I spent some time dere back in my youth."
"Is that right?" spoke King Triton doubtfully. "You know, Sharkanians are notorious for being very devious."
"Oh yes. Most devious," agreed Sebastian.
Then with a wave of his trident, King Triton created a picture of a creature. It appeared to look just like a merman, but this one was a lot bulkier. It also had a large dorsal fin on its back and had sharp teeth making it look meaner in appearance.
"And you should also know that Emperor Shargo is quite cunning," spoke the king.
"Man, don't I know it," Sebastian agreed again.
"I also need someone to see through Sharkanian schemes and be able to speak their language," added King Triton.
Sebastian puffed his chest with pride as he picked up a pastry from one of the platters.
"Ha! I can see through dem like I see through de hole in dis seaweed doughnut," he said confidently. "Sharkanian is also a simple language, your majesty. Dey just go 'blaaaarrrrgg!' "
"Then my search is over," King Triton spoke smiling. "You, Sebastian, shall be my ambassador to Sharkania."
"Tank you, your grace. You won't regret it," Sebastian bowed.
The king then gave Sebastian a rolled up scroll which was too heavy for Sebastian to life causing him to fall to the floor with the scroll.
"First, you'll have my decree of safe passage," said King Triton.
Sebastian was a bit puzzled. "You're too generous, your majesty, but why would I need-"
"You are going to Sharkania to arrange a peace conference," cut in the king. "Then you will meet the Sharkanians and then bring them into the family of Atlantica!"
Now Sebastian was worried. He face even grew a lot less red than before. "Go? Meet? Bring?" he squeaked.
From above them, Ariel, Flounder, and Garret had heard everything. Flounder was impressed, Ariel was worried and doubtful as was Garret, but the boy couldn't help but be amused with the situation.
"Looks like Crabby bit off a little more than he could chew on this one," he said. "And now that I think about it, I'm curious. What exactly is a Sharkanian? They appear to look just like merpeople."
"Well they do, but they're completely different," said Ariel. "Sharkanians are like us, but they look like sharks with hands and they can talk too. Not to mention they've been Atlantica's enemies for quite some time now."
"And Crabby claims to know everything about them?" wondered Garret raising a brow. "Ha! Sounds like a tall tale if I ever heard one. A little guy like him's gonna get eaten alive."
"Come on Garret. You don't know that," said Flounder. "Sebastian's the king's greatest advisor! He's gonna whip those sorry Sharkanians in shape! You'll see!"
Garret and Ariel looked at each other feeling very doubtful.
A little later, the word soon spread and King Triton had arranged a big send off for Sebastian. Everyone in kingdom was at the palace all wanting to wish him good luck. The king had even arranged a ride for the red crab in style which a carriage led by four dolphins. As Sebastian boarded his ride with Trition's safe of passage, he could hear the crowd cheering for him.
"Go get em Sebastian!"
"Yeah! Show em who's boss!"
"Oh. I'm gonna show dem alright," Sebastian muttered. "Showing dem who's food."
As soon as Sebastian was settled in his carriage, the orange seahorse handed him the reigns and before Sebastian could react, the dolphins shot forward and he was already away. However, the red crab managed to regain control as the carriage disappeared from sight at the palace.
"Oh, man. I'm crab cakes now for sure. I don't know anyting about Sharkania! I just accidentally floated through de place one night," Sebastian said to himself. "Oh, how do I get myself into these situations?"
Soon enough, Sebastian found himself getting close to Sharkanian territory and could see the palace belong to Emperor Sharga in sight. It bore some similarities to the palace back in Atlantica, but it looked more like a volcanic mountain with rivers of magma and everything. He now felt more terrified than he ever was before.
"Oh man, Sharkania," he gulped. "Be it ever so humble, it's no place like home."
Just then, three shadows cast over the red crab causing him to immediately shriek in terror. He grabbed the scroll that King Triton gave him, unwrapped it, and then hid beneath it shivering in fear.
"Don't eat me!" he pleaded. "Never eat shellfish in the middle of October!"
Then he heard a pair of familiar voices.
"Hi Sebastian."
"Relax Crabby. It's just us."
Sebastian then peeked out. There above him was Ariel, Garret, and Flounder. He felt very relieved to see them.
"Ariel! Flounder! Garret! What are you tree doing here?" he asked as he came out from the scroll. "Not dat I'm complaining."
"We thought we'd tag along with you," replied Ariel as she rolled the scroll. "So that maybe we can, you know, help."
"Help? Me? Nah, I don't need no help," sighed Sebastian sadly. "I can get meself eaten by me own self."
"Oh come on, Crabby. What happened to all that confidence you had a while back?" asked Garret. "Don't tell me that was really just all talk and you were just trying to get in the king's good graces?"
"Don't call me Crabby!" snapped Sebastian. "And it wasn't! I mean-"
Sebastian was trying to brave, but at the same time he wasn't. Ariel then picked him up and placed him back in the seat of the carriage.
"Come on Sebastian," she spoke kindly. "We'll be behind you the whole way."
"Yeah. Waaay behind you," said Flounder who sounded a bit frightened too.
Garret gave Flounder a light nudge telling him to be quiet. Then he spoke kindly to Sebastian too.
"Look Crabby, you may have gotten yourself into this... situation," he said. "But believe me when I say that Ariel's right. We'll be right there with you. Even though we're heading into a territory that's filled with creatures that are filled with shark lookalikes that could possibly kill us in a volcanic mountain that looks like Atlantica. But... you know it's no big deal."
This time, Ariel gave Garret a nudge. A hard one at his rib making Garret yelp a little in pain.
"Garret," she whispered disapprovingly.
"What? It's true," spoke Garret.
"Oh man. I'm doomed," groaned Sebastian.
The three then took off heading towards the palace of Sharkania with Sebastian praying and hoping that the Sharkanians there won't make a meal out of them. Most especially him.