Thunder strikes on a stormy night. A large sea creature with barnacles on his face clashes weapons with Eugene. Another fights with Lance as Cass and Harmony battle two on two, Varian hiding behind a tree. A creature lands in front of Rapunzel, who holds a frying pan. He hits it against the pan and it creates a loud sound.
Believe it or not, this is a love story.
The waves crash on an early morning.
We should probably back up to the beginning...and our dreamy, romantic lead.
Hook Foot looks towards the water with a lovestruck look on his face. A fly goes by, which goes into his nostril when he breathes deeply. The fly goes back out of his nose, the others staring at the man from behind.
"Um...something's up with Hook Foot," Lance rubs his chin. "He hasn't moved in I don't know how long."
"I'm guessing since low tide," Eugene comments as Hook Foot is almost neck-deep into the water.
"Actually, he's been there since yesterday after he got back from a walk," Harmony calls out and they look around to see her peeking out from the hut she shares with Varian.
Turns out, all of us had noticed Hook Foot acting strangely...
Cass was having a sword duel with Harmony to sharpen the girl's skills when a toenail went flying, hitting Cass' sword. They looked towards each other and followed the source. A toenail flew past as they saw Hook Foot...clipping his toenails...with a crab.
"Ew," They both cringed in disgust. Hook Foot turned around and paused before fleeing.
"...You saw that too, right?" Cass asked Harmony, who nodded slowly in shock. She never thought she'd see the day when a pub thug would clip toenails.
Hook Foot stared at himself in the mirror as he was wearing seashells in his hair. Lance came into view of the mirror, staring at the man in confusion. Hook Foot slowly put down the mirror and made a run for it, the seashells falling onto the table.
When Rapunzel was starting to paint a bird in her journal, a raspy scrape made her mess up. And not only that, the same bird flew away. She listened closely, cringing at the loud sound. She followed it to see Hook Foot scraping his teeth with a stick, and a particular piece was stuck in the upper row. The stick broke and he looked up to see Rapunzel, shrieking in alarm and taking off.
"Now I know why there's grease on my mirror handle," Eugene stares at Hook Foot.
"And why the seashells I was collecting for Mona went missing," Varian looks up from his lab on the second floor of the hut.
"Aww, those were for me?" Harmony beams towards him and he rubs his neck.
"I was gonna make a bracelet..."
"Now I know why my walnut-cracking stick smells like teeth," Shorty gives an accusing look towards a pile of sticks. He was building a duck made out of sand.
"Maybe he's just in a good mood?" Rapunzel suggests with a shrug.
"That's the problem! Hook Foot only has two moods: surly and—just the one mood actually."
Since Eugene knew Hook Foot best, he volunteered to question him with his characteristic tact and diplomacy.
H: Really, Punzie?
Okay, maybe just tact.
"What is wrong with you?" Eugene asks nicely to Hook Foot, who just stares out to the water with a smile, holding a sandwich in hand. "You're acting strange, and what is that weird thing you're doing with your mouth?"
He turns to Eugene, an eye twitching as his smile widens a bit. "Smiling."
"Oh! That's how you smile," Eugene stands up, slightly alarmed. "And a—And a—a beautiful smile it is."
"I met someone, Eugene..." He says happily.
"Okay, always nice to meet people," The former thief smiles a bit.
"No. A lady," Hook Foot stands up, slightly swooning.
"Half of us are."
"No. A 'lady' lady," Hook Foot faces his friend, looking away for a second. "You know..."
Eugene thinks about it for a second before finally realizing what he means. "You? WOW! Oh!"
"Keep your voice down," Hook Foot warns him quietly. He points behind Eugene towards the treehouse. Harmony and Varian are showing the others the three pieces of the scroll, trying to determine how they're all connected. "I don't want the others to know."
"Foot, my man, you have my word," Eugene gestures to himself. "And believe me, I'm a vault. After all, Brownie trusted me when the snowstorm ended."
He takes a bite out of his sandwich, a bit doubtful by the former thief's smile.
Rapunzel, Harmony, and Varian all gasp once they've heard the news. "Hook Foot met someone?"
"HEY!" Hook Foot calls out as he heard that.
"Yeah. I'm still really struggling with the whole 'this guy's a vault' thing," Eugene smiles sheepishly.
"If you didn't want us to know, then you shouldn't have told Eugene," Harmony smirks in amusement, crossing her arms. Hook Foot throws down his sandwich out of frustration.
"Hook Foot met somebody?" Both Lance and Cass ask in surprise.
"Aw, Hook Foot!" Rapunzel grasps his fist.
"That's great, buddy!" Lance congratulates him.
"It's so sweet!" Harmony places her hands on her cheeks.
"I'm so happy for you!" Rapunzel exclaims next.
"Couldn't happen to a nicer guy."
"You deserve it, Hook Foot," Varian smiles at him.
"Is she pretty? Oh, what's her name? What does she look like?" Hook Foot glares towards Eugene. This is exactly why he didn't want them to know. "I am just so happy for you."
"Ooh, and he's surly again," Eugene winces at the look. "Guys, he's back to normal!"
"Tell us how you met her, Hook Foot," Rapunzel clasps her hands. "We want all the details. I mean, it can't top the way Varian and Harmi met," She wraps her arms around their shoulders. "Their meet-cute was so adorable!"
"Ahh, no need to compare..." Varian rubs his neck sheepishly.
"Alright, fine," He grumbles in defeat. "I was collectin' firewood the other day..."
Hook Foot spun a stick into the pile he was carrying, walking down the shore. He picked up a white one, a crab crawling away. He trotted further before a shine hit his eye.
"Huh?" He turned in confusion, seeing a small blue crystal in the sand. He scooped it up into his hand, eyeing the object. He had definitely never seen it before. Maybe Princess Harmony could determine what it was once he brought it back for her.
"That's sea glass, hon," A female voice spoke up. He looked towards the source and gasped at the beautiful black-haired woman in the water. "Fun fact: they're rarer than pearls." Hook Foot stared at her in awe, dropping the sea glass and the pile of sticks. "Heya, Butterfingers. Name's Seraphina."
"Oh, uh, this isn't butter," He looked to his hands. "It's crab grease," He wiped it off himself in embarrassment. "I'm-I'm Hook Foot."
"Ya don't say," She eyed his hook. "Why do they call ya that?"
"...I have a hook for a foot," He whispered, pointing to his left leg. She laughed at him.
"You got more looks than brains, honey," And with that, she swam away. He chuckled at the woman as his heart beat fast.
"Brains..."
Okay, so it wasn't the most romantic story I ever heard, but Hook Foot was happy and that's all that matters.
"She gave me this to remember me by and told me not to lose it," He holds up a dark pink seashell that's around his neck.
"Aww!" Everyone coos at how sweet that is.
Hook Foot sighs dreamily. "And I never will. Kind of like the Harmonium."
Harmony smiles softly, lightly touching it with her fingers. Hook Foot takes another bite out of his sandwich. "We're even gonna do dinner later."
"Hookie! You got a date!" Eugene elbows him slightly. Hook Foot swallows his bite.
"No, it's not a date," He denies in embarrassment, "We're just getting' together to eat and, you know, uh, talk, and uh..." Hook Foot notices everyone's smiles and realizes that it is a date. "Wait! I have a date!" His mouth opens in shock and stays like that.
Rapunzel walks up to him. "I think he's just a little anxious, that's all," Eugene states, though he really wasn't sure. "He-he's gonna be fine."
The blonde princess waves a hand in front of his face. "Uh, Hook Foot?"
Then he merely faints, tumbling down the sand and into the water. "You wanna grab a pulse?" Eugene glances at them.
"We'll go get the rope and pull him back in..." Varian sighs as he walks off, Harmony following after him.
"And yet Shorty's the one who keeps falling into the water," She rolls her eyes.
Hook Foot had never been on a date before, so Eugene, Varian, Harmi, and I promised to help. Our first step: recon. We had to meet this special lady to see who we were dealing with.
"Uh, um, oh, uh," Hook Foot stammers as he points up ahead. "There she is."
Seraphina is swimming in water as he touches his necklace nervously. "Hey, hey, hey, hey, relax," Eugene places a hand on his shoulder. "You're in great hands here, Foot, okay? I am the dating master."
Harmony clears her throat as Varian jerks a thumb to Rapunzel, who doesn't look amused at him at all. The two teens don't look very happy with him either. "Former," He chuckles nervously. "Former dating master."
"Idiot," The young girl coughs into her fist, getting a glare from her brother figure.
"But I can still give you some pointers about love."
"Hook Foot doesn't need pointers," Rapunzel speaks up. "He just needs to speak from the heart."
"Oh, no, no, no. It's not about speaking from the heart, Blondie. It's about the charm," Eugene states, his girlfriend looking at him in annoyance.
"Harmony, Varian, I need a second opinion. What do ya got?" The pub thug looks at them pleadingly.
"Ahh, hmm, put it tactfully," Harmony snaps her fingers in thought, trying to think of something. "It's about communication and being honest not just with yourself, but with her. In my opinion, you can't make it work if you can't trust that person."
"Well, for me, it's about putting the person you love first above all else. And to bring out the best in them. Like Mona did for me..." He smiles towards the girl, who smiles back happily. "But don't forget, it has to grow over time. Don't rush into anything unless you're sure you're ready. Besides, it wasn't charm that helped me be able to admit my feelings for Mona on her birthday."
"Oh?" She smiles in amusement, raising a brow. "Could've sworn it was your dance moves."
"Well, that too. But it didn't help that a ghost threatened your birthday either," He chuckles at her and she rolls her eyes playfully. Sure, blame the ghost. Rapunzel and Eugene both smile at the two as they reminisce about that moment.
Hook Foot suddenly lets out a belch. "Ugh, I thought that crawfish smelled bad goin' in!" Hook Foot laughs a little as he walks past all of them. "Who am I kiddin'? I'm gross!"
"Don't worry, Hookie. When I'm done with you, you're gonna be a smooth-talking-"
Seraphina, who had seen them, jumps out of the water...revealing a large fishtail as the lower half of her body. She lands in the water, leaving a shocked four of five from the group.
"She's a..." Eugene squeaks in surprise.
"Seraphina's a mermaid?" Rapunzel asks as they stare at her.
"Yeah, so? You're a woman with 70 feet with a sister who can create magic."
"And you don't see me staring," Seraphina smiles a little.
"...Yeah, you got us there," Rapunzel points at her, grinning.
"Wow!" Harmony and Varian bend down to the mermaid in awe. She smiles at the two.
"And who are these two sweethearts?"
"I'm Varian!" He smiles widely as Harmony waves.
"Harmony. I've never met a mermaid before! Oh, can I draw you?" She opens up her journal, flipping to a blank page.
"You sure can, sugar! Lookin' forward to our date, honey," Seraphina turns towards Hook Foot with a smile, touching his chest. He just giggles bashfully. Harmony finishes the sketch and turns the book around for her to see.
"I'll paint it later for you to look at!"
"Can't wait!" She winks at Harmony, waving as she swims backwards. "See ya tonight!"
"She's so nice," The girl smiles as she stands up. Hook Foot waves at her, but something seems to be watching them from the water...three blue fish creatures rise out of the water, looking at them not too far away.
"Apprehend Seraphina. The rest are...disposable."
So, Hook Foot was in love, and he had his own way of showing it.
The group arrive back to the two shelters, where the horses are eating some grass. The two couples stare after an anxious Hook Foot.
"I'm so nervous my ears are sweatin'!" He pulls down his ears slightly. "Anybody got a rag? Hey, hey, can I use your horse tail?"
Max lifts up his neck, slowly scooching away. "I guess that's a nay."
"You know, Foot, after describing her eyes, her chin, even the birthmark on her chin, you'd think at some point, you'd get around to mentioning that she's half fish!" Eugene exclaims at the man. Harmony turns to look at him, punching the man in the arm.
"I don't care if she's half fish!" Hook Foot argues to him. "She's got a heart and I got a heart! And my heart, it burns! Sometimes it's cause I eat too fast. But also, it burns with loneliness. Seraphina's the only person I ever knew who could put out my burning heart and warm it up at the same time."
"Yeah, looks don't matter. You should know better than that," Harmony defends, pointing up a finger at him.
"It's about what's on the inside, Eugene," Varian quips, hands on his hips.
"That's very good, you guys," Rapunzel encourages them, smiling as she sighs happily from Hook Foot's confession. "How romantic..." She puts her hands to her heart.
"Okay, fine, you don't need to gang up on me. I'll swim with the current," Eugene smiles, walking up to the man. "Hook Foot, let's get you ready for a date."
"We'll help too!" Varian grins a bit.
"How? You've never been on a date," Hook Foot stares at them in confusion.
"You still haven't been on a date?" Rapunzel gasps at the two.
"We've been over this, and that's not the point," Harmony rolls her eyes at her sister. "This isn't about us, this is about Hook Foot. Just because we've never had a date doesn't mean we don't know how to prepare for one."
Varian says nothing as he looks away bashfully. He's actually setting up a date for them with the others' help: he just won't ask Eugene and Rapunzel otherwise they'll get overboard again like with Vigor...he knows that both of them were supposed to be focusing on their goals, but...she deserved it. Mona was special, very special, and he wanted them to have that experience...and they did promise their friends to do more romantic things.
As they walk away, thunder rumbles nearby...
"First, we gotta get you the right look," Eugene tells Hook Foot, who raises a brow in confusion. "Let's try this one that I like to call 'the simmer'." He purses his lips together, raising a brow. Harmony and Varian take one look at him, and burst out of laughter, falling onto the sand.
"The right look...and he does that. What-what makes you think that'll work on anyone?!" Harmony continues laughing as she stands up, pointing at him. "This is the greatest thing I've ever seen and heard! You're the only person I've ever seen do that!"
"That's not gonna work on Seraphina," Varian chuckles, shaking his head.
"B-Bet every coin I got!" Harmony giggles, trying to catch her breath. Eugene stares at them in annoyance.
"Don't listen to them," He waves it off. Hook Foot growls as he attempts the look, but ends up giving a scary growl with an eye twitch. Max whinnies in alarm, running off with Pascal. Harmony and Varian peek behind Eugene, a bit scared now.
Hook Foot growls as he stops back to Rapunzel, Harmony and Varian cringing.
"He's been like that the whole hike back...hide us," Varian whispers to Rapunzel.
"Let's not worry about simmering. All you have to do is be yourself. Just say whatever comes naturally," She smiles encouragingly.
"Huh...how can my armpits be so clammy and yet so itchy at the same time?" He scratches his armpit, sniffing it. "That's new. I wonder if I should have that checked out."
"Umm, maybe keep some things personal," Varian winces a bit as the girls are disgusted.
"Straighten that back," Eugene claps Hook Foot on the back.
"Sit however you want," Rapunzel advises as he sits like a log on a beach towel. He casually places his hook down.
"You gotta put your best foot forward," Eugene paces behind him, looking over his shoulder. "And in this case, I'm gonna let you decide which one that is."
"The important thing is that you're comfortable," Rapunzel states, laying down her feet, wiggling her toes. Hook Foot brings his feet together...and then gets them stuck. He tries to get his hook out, laying down on his back.
"Comfort's got nothing to do with it," Eugene comments as he arrives. "It's about igniting the fires of passion. And that won't happen if sparks aren't flying, you know."
"What does that even mean?" Rapunzel asks, the two teens looking between the two.
"Trust me, Blondie, I've gone on tons of dates!"
"You have?" Rapunzel questions, Harmony wincing.
"With you!"
"Oh, uh huh."
"And I know how love works," He states confidently.
"Oh great..." Harmony pinches her nose.
"Guys, I'm sure both of your advice is...helpful, but maybe we should give it a shot?" Varian calls out nervously.
"Stay out of it!" The couple shouts at them, the two recoiling back a bit.
Okay, so Eugene and I were at a bit of an impasse.
A bit?
Okay, sure, laugh at me now, Harmi. Still, we were both excited when...the big moment arrived.
Eugene sails all of them to the meeting spot. Hook Foot gulps nervously as Harmony tries to touch up his hair, to no avail. Seraphina moves away a wall of seaweed as she sits on top of the rock, smiling towards him. He looks up at her in awe.
Rapunzel and Pascal provide the music as the two sit across from each other. Varian found some flowers to use as a centerpiece. Hook Foot wipes off his ears with a cloth that Harmony handed to him, thankfully.
"Sorry about all the ear sweat," He squeezes it dry, a small puddle forming nearby. She just smiles, a hand on her cheek. Harmony, Varian, and Eugene approach the table, holding silver plates underneath trays. A cloth is over their arms.
"Bonjour, bienvenue, and welcome, I'm Eugene. These are my assistants Princess Harmony and Varian," They both bow to the two once their names have been spoken. "We'll be taking care of you."
"Water to drink," Harmony places a few glasses in front of them.
"And with ice," Varian smirks, digging into his bag. He pulls out two blue chem balls as Harmony places down her tray on the table, holding up two water cups. She throws them into the air and he throws the orbs at the two streams. Once they meet, ice falls into their cups, and the two clap. The young duo bow again.
"Our first course, fresh halibut," Eugene reveals the dead fish, Seraphina gasping in horror.
"Steve!"
A string twangs from Rapunzel's guitar, the teens giving Eugene an accusing look. "What was going through your mind when you said 'oh no, guys, leave the menu to me?' We can't serve them this!" Harmony hisses to him.
"You were about to serve her friend?" Varian whispers to the man, who covers the fish.
"And I'm sure Steve is gonna pull right through..." He takes away all the trays. "Don't look under there."
"We should've looked at them..." The boy sighs, shaking his head.
"We're so sorry about that," Harmony frowns a bit. "Is there something else we can get you tonight?"
"Ya know what? I'll serve myself," She gets up, diving into the water. A few seconds later, she holds up a handful of kelp. "Kelp?" She places it in front of Hook Foot, the teens glancing to each other.
"Kelp it is...we'll go get more!" Harmony bites her lip awkwardly.
"You two are just sweet as sugar!" Seraphina smiles gratefully, and the girl hands her the copied painting of the mermaid, the two leaving the table.
Hook Foot stares at the kelp, looking up to the mermaid who looks at him fondly. He pats it a bit before shoveling it all into his mouth. He slurps it into his mouth, groaning a bit from the awful taste.
"You know what food you might like? Try the simmer," Eugene suggests to him, wiggling his eyebrows. "I hear it's wonderful."
"That's still hilarious that you think it's gonna work!" Harmony calls out nearby, earning a glare in return. Hook Foot turns to the mermaid, who hasn't said a word. He tries his simmer, but she's just confused by it.
"Why is your face doin' that? Is the kelp not sittin' right?" She joins his side in concern.
"Just say whatever comes naturally to your mind~!" Rapunzel sings as she walks past them. He drops the look, not meeting Seraphina's eyes. Would that really work? She's a mermaid, for crying out loud!
"Uhh, look at this weather, huh? Boy, is it weather!" He couldn't believe that he just said that.
"I see you still have the necklace I gave you," She smiles, eyeing it.
"Do you...you want it back?" He lightly touches it.
"No, I'm just lookin'," She eyes him with a small grin.
"Hey, I got you somethin', little gift," He digs into his pocket, pulling out the sea glass that he saw when he met her. "Sea glass, almost as rare as pearls."
"Those are called mermaid tears. You know where those come from, right?"
He stares at her in confusion. "They come from mermaids, when we cry."
"...Did he really just give those?" Varian pinches his nose, Harmony chuckling nervously.
"He's blowing it..."
Hook Foot tosses them over his shoulder quickly, Eugene covering his face with a plate. Seraphina no longer looks at him as her face says that she's a bit disinterested.
"Straighten your back," He says quietly as he walks past them. His back cracks a bit as he sits up.
"Sit however you want~" Rapunzel sings as she strums.
"You gotta look good~" Eugene sings this time.
"Be yourself," Rapunzel glares at her boyfriend as they continue within the melody of the song.
"Love is hard work~"
"It doesn't need to be~" They grit their teeth towards each other, fast flamenco music being played by Pascal, but he ends up breaking his guitar...
"Uh, hope you enjoyed that little ditty. We call it, Speak from Your Heart," Rapunzel smiles softly towards her friend.
"OHkay! That's enough now," Harmony stands between her sister and Eugene as they still glare at one another.
"I think it's time for us to take over," Varian gives them a look as he places down some more kelp.
"No more singing, for one," The girl takes the guitars away. "And two, over here, right now!"
The two pull their friends away from the table to speak with them. "Guys, you're on two different opinions here. Hook Foot has no idea what to do because of your clashing!" Harmony explains to them.
"And it's making all of us a little uncomfortable," Varian pinches his fingers together.
"What do you two know? You're still kids!" Eugene gestures to them.
"And yet somehow, we're more mature on this than you!" Harmony quips back.
"He's gotta do this on his own," Varian looks back to Hook Foot and Seraphina. "Without your...helpful advice."
"Fine, we'll try this your way," Rapunzel waves it off. "But I know I'm right."
"You're kidding, he's gonna have to bring a lot of charm if he wants to have a chance with Seraphina."
"Don't you think that if she cared about his looks or his odor or his digestive habits, she wouldn't be here right now with him?" Harmony asks softly and they say nothing, looking away. She had a point; Seraphina did look excited to be going on a date with him regardless of how he looked or acted. "It doesn't matter if he has charm or if he has to be himself. It matters how he decides to act and express his feelings."
"...Look, I'm just gonna be honest," Hook Foot speaks up. "This ain't me. I'm trying so hard to impress you because...I think you're really, really special and—and I'm not." Her eyes widen at his words, turning to him. "I ain't a looker, I got a hook foot, I got bad breath-"
"I like your breath!" She interrupts, surprising him. "Reminds me of seaweed drying in the morning sun."
His eyes widen slowly and then he smiles. "Hey, you still hungry?" He chuckles as he takes the plate of kelp, stumbling and tripping into the water. Nevertheless, he saved the plate as he holds it up. "Here!" He gives it to her and she smiles. "Seconds."
"Now you're talkin' my language, handsome," She replies, eating the kelp. He stares at her longingly, fist to his cheek. The moon shines on them, everything around them changing color. Seraphina looks up at Hook Foot, still chewing kelp.
The moonlight on the shore
The promise of much more
It drives me crazy merely thinking of you
He stares at the mermaid who's still eating. He holds out his hand to her and she slurps the rest of her meal. She takes his hands and he helps her up.
But I'd give anything
To hear you sweetly sing
They touch cheeks, smiling.
Those three small words I long to hear
She starts to sing, a piercing screech echoing. Fish start jumping out of the water as the others cover their ears. Pascal and Daisy are whisked away by the loud sound. Hook Foot cringes, his hair flying before it finally stops.
"...You pierce my ears and skull like you pierce my heart."
Harmony's head spins around as her hair is a mess in all directions. "Seraphina...I think I love you."
Her smiles drops at his confession, recoiling back a bit. "Hook Foot...I need to tell you something."
Suddenly, the fishmen rise out of the water, landing nearby. "Seraphina! Your time here is up!"
"Hook Foot! Seraphina!" Rapunzel shouts as the four land behind them. "Jump!"
"Here ya go!" Eugene runs forward with Rapunzel's hair in his hands. One of them throws a spear, but it breaks right through the hair. Another throws his weapon, but Harmony creates a black rock, breaking it into pieces. Eugene pushes both of them into the water.
"Run!"
Seraphina jumps into the water with Hook Foot and he screams as she swims away.
"After them!"
"Who are those guys? Why are they after Seraphina?" Varian asks in shock.
"I don't know why they want her, but we can't stay around here finding out!" Harmony states as they jump off the rock.
Seraphina carries Hook Foot on her back as she swims rapidly, the fishmen catching up to them. She looks behind her and swims faster than before. The two jump into the air nearby the four on boat. Hook Foot flies towards the ground, but lands safely and catches Seraphina.
"Come on! Let's scram!" He runs off as two of them land a few feet away. He sighs in relief as he sees Cass and Lance running up to help. He races right past them as the two challenge the creatures.
"Now this is my kind of date!" She exclaims, the others charging from behind.
Hook Foot can hear the thunder as he stops at a cave. "Don't worry. No matter what it takes, I'll protect you from the bad guys," He glares over his shoulder.
"That's the thing, Hook Foot. They're not the bad guys..." He stares at her in confusion. "I am..." His eyes widen as the thunder strikes again for dramatic effect.
One of the creatures growl as Eugene swings his sword at him. Once again, they battle as they were before, with Varian hiding behind the tree again. Rapunzel faces one with her frying pan and they clash weapons again.
So this is where we came in before.
"Okay, we have to give Hook Foot and Seraphina time to escape!" Rapunzel calls out while battling her opponent.
"We had half-fish people, now we have full-fish people! What kind of anthropomorphic game are you playing?" Eugene states in disbelief.
"They're humanoid fish creatures," Harmony shouts, stepping back from one as they clash weapons.
"The girl is correct. We are Vodniks, and we enforce the laws of the sea!" Eugene hits him with his sword in the face, causing him to growl with a wicked smile.
"Oh, boy."
A Vodnik knocks Cass' sword out of her hands, which lands a few feet away. He points his trident at Cass. "I have you now..." She chuckles and ducks out of the way, pulling out her dagger from her pant leg.
"Yeah, well you brought forks...to a knife fight." She continues to fight back, Varian eyeing Cass' sword. He runs up and grabs it as Harmony's sword is kicked out of her hands. She narrows her eyes, creating a black rock to disarm him, but he just corners her.
"Mona!" He tosses it to her and she catches it swiftly.
"Thanks, Vari!" She turns around and sword fights with the Vodnik in front of her.
"Vodniks, step away!" Their leader tosses something. It looks like a blue grenade and when it lands in front of the group, it traps them in red coral.
"That's not how knife fights work!" Cass exclaims at them.
"You are under arrest for abetting Seraphina, wanted thief of the deep!"
Rapunzel opens her mouth in shock. "Thief?"
"Seraphina stole something?" Varian blinks in surprise.
Seraphina takes the necklace off a disappointed Hook Foot. "Wait, you're the bad guy? I don't get it."
She opens up the seashell and takes out a small cream pearl that was inside it. It also has a tiny purple element inside. "This is the sacred Mariner's Pearl. Where I come from, this thing is priceless. Insanely fragile, but priceless," She places it back inside the necklace.
"Wait! You gave me the shell just to conceal stolen merch? You used me!" He starts to storm off, upset.
"It's not like that!" She protests, swimming up to him. "Or at least, it's not anymore. When we first met, my play was to let you hang on to the pearl to keep my hands clean. I had to lose those Vodniks. But then I fell for you. Hard. I fell for your good looks...your ear sweat...your crab-greased hands."
He bends down to her, taking her hands. Thunder crashes and she immediately hugs him out of fear. He sighs, understanding now. But she couldn't live like this. "Seraphina...you gotta straighten out your life."
"It's too late for me..." She places her cheek on his chest. "Maybe not for us. What if we escaped together?"
"But my friends-"
"Would want you to be happy," She holds his cheek, smiling. "Wouldn't they?" She can tell that they only wanted the best for him, and would support his decision. He hums slightly, squeezing her hand.
"They're in the cove!" A voice announces, as the Vodniks had followed them.
"Alright! I'm comin' with you," He smiles at her softly. "And you're comin' with me!" He grabs her bridal style and walks off. He slides down a cliff, the Vodniks sliding after them. They stop at the edge, a Vodnik throwing a trident. Seraphina gasps as it goes flying, and it hits the edge, causing them to fall over. They both scream as they fall, landing in a net. The necklace slips from Seraphina's hand, and she tries to grab it, to no avail.
"No!"
Hook Foot catches it with his hook, lifting it up. "Whew! Almost lost our new life."
"We've got to get outta this thing!" Eugene pulls at the coral.
"It's no use! It won't break," Rapunzel slams against it with her frying pan. "None of us can get out!"
"And I can't get my hand to move!" Harmony grunts as her left arm is entrapped in coral.
"Hey!" They look to Shorty, who's out of the coral holding Rapunzel's hair in his hands. "When did you get all this hair?"
Hook Foot and Seraphina touch noses lovingly. "Give up the pearl and surrender, Seraphina," A Vodnik demands to her. "And maybe we'll let you live. But not your dry-skinned land eel."
"Dry skin!" He exclaims up at him. "Why, I oughta..."
"He goes, I go!" Seraphina hugs him tightly.
"Suits us," He takes a piece of rope, unhooking it with his trident. They both gasp sharply and he laughs at them.
"Shorty, how did you get out?" Rapunzel asks incredibly.
"Uh, I dug a hole lookin' for my walnut," He states obviously.
"Hole? I didn't see any hole down here-" They all shout as they slide downwards, landing in the said hole. Shorty holds up his walnut.
"Found it!"
The Vodniks continue to try to cut the rope. Hook Foot hears a few birds, looking downwards to see a few seagulls nearby on a rock.
"Seraphina! Your song!"
"Not really feeling musical at the moment!" She shakes her head. The situation is kind of dire, after all.
"Sing it now!" He urges her and she does so. It alerts the birds and they fly off. The rope breaks and they scream, the birds flying over the Vodniks. "Hold my hand! Tight!"
She does so and his hook latches against the rope, causing them to swing. Seraphina flies into the air and grabs a rope, pulling Hook Foot back onto land.
"Hook Foot!" She goes over to hug him, the Vodniks growling.
"Arrest them!"
"Not so fast!" They turn around to see Rapunzel and the others. "Those are our friends!"
"You..." The leader growls towards her. "Irritate me."
"That makes two of us," Harmony challenges back, narrowing her eyes. He throws his trident, but Rapunzel knocks it into the air. Harmony creates a black rock, sending the weapon flying into a tree.
"Yeah, right back at ya," Rapunzel points at them.
"It'll take more than a round, black paddle and a black rock to defeat us!"
The fishmen run up to the group. "It's a frying pan," Rapunzel grits her teeth at them.
"And don't you forget it!" Harmony declares to him as they separate. The blonde princess jumps over a frying pan. She knocks him in the stomach as Lance laughs, grabbing the trident.
"Eugene! Duck!" He swings it at the Vodnik, sending him flying. Eugene and Lance share a fist bump. One of them nearby laughs, Cass looking over her shoulder. She kicks a hive into the air and then it lands on the Vodnik's face, distracting him. A coral trap is thrown towards the boys again, but Cass steps in and slices it in half.
"Oh, I broke your jail. Now what are you gonna do about it?" She teases, gritting her teeth. He just laughs as a flash happens behind her. "Oops..." She looks back to see Lance and Eugene trapped in the coral again...
"You did that on purpose."
She attempts to help, but gets trapped as well.
Harmony and Rapunzel's weapons are taken away from them, and they look up to see a Vodnik laughing as he holds them.
"Stay here!" Hook Foot tells Seraphina. "I gotta help my friends!" He pushes past the Vodnik near the sisters, tackling one. Their weapons land in their hands. Rapunzel hits him on the head while Harmony traps him in black rocks.
Hook Foot is pushed onto the ground, groaning. "Hook Foot!" Seraphina calls out in concern. The girls and Varian get captured, struggling in their tight grip. "Stop!" She holds up the Mariner's Pearl. "You want it?"
"What are you doing?" Hook Foot calls out.
"...I'll go in peace, if you leave Hook Foot and his friends alone. Or else..." She places down the pearl, holding a rock into the air. "Or else...goodbye pearl."
Hook Foot whimpers slightly. "No. Not the pearl," The leader looks on in horror. The creatures reluctantly let go of the three. "As you wish..."
She smirks, tossing the pearl into his slippery hands. Harmony kicks the leader in the stomach and he groans, holding his stomach. "Why you-!"
"Consider it even for what you did to us!" She hisses as she points to him, huffing. Hook Foot runs over to Seraphina, holding her hands.
"I don't want you to go."
"Sorry, sugar, but I gotta..." She says sadly. The next thing she knew, his hook is in front of her.
"Here, somethin' to remember me by."
"Giving a hook to a fish, really?" Seraphina asks skeptically as she holds it in her hands. Harmony and Varian both cringe. File that into things you shouldn't do with a mermaid...He looks down sadly and she smiles. "Kidding. I love it." She gives him a small kiss and is taken away.
"Seraphina!" He calls her name. "Seraphina!"
"Bye, good-lookin'," She murmurs forlornly and he frowns upsettingly. He watches as the Vodniks jump and they all disappear into the water.
"She gave up her freedom for him..." Harmony puts a hand to her heart.
The next morning, the two couples approach a saddened Hook foot, who's tracing the sand with a stick. "Well, I'm sorry about how things worked out..." Eugene tells him.
"Thanks," He looks up briefly, looking back to the sand with a hand on his cheek. "I guess I learned that sometimes...you gotta let the one you love swim away," He had traced their initials along with a heart. Harmony and Varian look to each other briefly before the princess kneels next to him.
"I felt the same way...when I sacrificed myself to defeat Varian," She closes her eyes. "I almost let him get away...but then I remembered how much I care for him. And someday, Seraphina will be back, Hook Foot. I truly believe that."
The wave washes away the drawing and when it goes away, it reveals a mermaid's tear...He picks it up and stares at it.
"Mermaid tears."
And then another wave washes over, revealing dozens of mermaid tears. Seraphina is just as heartbroken as she is...
A crab crawls onto his shoulder and he smiles weakly. He stands up and walks along the shore. Harmony gets onto her feet, her eyes sympathetic for him.
"You know, Blondie, I can see what you were saying," Eugene speaks up. "Sometimes, love just finds a way of happening all on its own."
"And I guess sometimes you do have to work at it," She agrees with him and they hold hands, smiling at each other. Varian gives Harmony a side hug, kissing her cheek and she grins happily.
Either way, love can be hard. So when you find that special someone...treasure every moment.
And love will always find a way.
"Hey Mona," Varian lightly knocks onto the front door, seeing the girl inside sitting on her bed. She looks up from her journal to see him. "Would you mind coming with me for a walk?"
"Uh, okay," She stands up as Daisy flies off her shoulder. The duckling smiles towards Varian as she watches him lead the girl away. The two walk along the shore, eyeing the water. He takes a hold of her hand. "I hope that ferry comes soon..."
"We might as well enjoy though as it lasts, right?" He asks, coming to a stop. She looks at him in confusion and then looks up ahead, gasping.
There, on the shore in front of them, is a boat surrounded by candles for light. Rapunzel and Eugene gesture to their boat ride.
"Vari..." She murmurs softly. "You did all this? What's the occasion?"
"You are," He smiles, squeezing her hand. "Um...it's, well...a date."
Harmony blinks, touching her necklace lightly. "Wow...that's so sweet. What are we waiting for?" She pulls him forward and he chuckles. He allows her to step on first, climbing into the small boat and sitting in front of her. They both smile at each other as Eugene and Rapunzel lean forward.
"For the record, we're only letting you borrow our thing because you're our friends," Eugene points out.
"Have fun, you two!" Rapunzel exclaims as they push the boat forward, waving as they watch the teens float away on the boat.
"Seraphina inspire you?" Harmony asks in amusement.
"A little," He pulls out an oar and starts rowing. She looks up at the night sky and all the stars in awe. He smiles as they enjoy the peace and quiet (something they haven't had the whole day). He stares at the girl, this princess sitting in front of him. Their socio-economic status couldn't be anymore different: she's a princess, and he has almost nothing to offer her. But she didn't care about that, and saw him as a person...kind of like Rapunzel and Eugene...
He comes to a stop where it's best to see the stars and she scrambles into the spot next to him. Harmony bounces up and down a bit. "This is a great place to see all the constellations!"
"I had our route calibrated before I got the boat," He chuckles, wrapping an arm around her. "Do you...do you regret doing this later?"
"No...it's fine, Vari," She looks up at him. "You were worth the wait."
He smiles softly, kissing the top of her head. "I promise, we'll do more things like this. I don't wanna wait regretting it later..."
She hugs his waist tightly, humming happily as she rests her cheek on his chest. He grins down at the girl, hugging her back. They both turn their eyes to the stars above, pointing out all of the constellations as they just sit there and enjoy themselves...