Aquatic Kingdom Hearts
Chapter 11: The Sparrow Flies In; A Last Chance pt.2
Not too Far away
The stranger named Smithy was sitting down at the rail of the ship as he talked to the two soldiers. He had just been telling them story after story after story. He was currently telling him some other story as he went on with great detail, "And then they made me their chief…." But then his story was interrupted as the three heard a splashing sound from across them. They turned around to see what it was that made it. And it was then that they saw another person jumping in after them. The three got up and saw the scene, while Smithy looked to Mullroy and asked, "Shouldn't you be saving them?"
Mullroy, in a calm yet panicked stated, answered, "I can't swim."
Smithy looked over to Murtogg, who replied, "I can only dog paddle."
It was then that Smithy just sighed as he took off his hat and coat as he stated sarcastically, "Pride of the Navy, you are." He then took off his holster belt as he gave it to Murtogg, and pointed to him, "Do not lose these." And before anyone of them could question the stranger's intentions, he dived into the water and after the two kids.
Eric groaned a little, after he had hit the water, he was starting to regret jumping from that height. But he shook it off as he saw Ariel, unconsciously sinking to the bottom. He swam over to her as fast as he could, along with a ticked off Dax from having to fall from that height. The two swam next to the unconscious princess and were about to help her out, but not until a third party surprisingly showed up to help them. The strange fellow seemingly swam up to them and helped the boy get the girl back up to the surface while Dax stayed out of sight.
They broke the surface of the water, and Eric and the stranger worked together to get the semi-unconscious Ariel back to the docks. Waiting with them there Murtogg and Mullroy as they helped Ariel and the two get back on to the docks. Eric and 'Smithy' joined up as they got themselves back on the deck, along with Dax who stayed close to Eric and avoided getting seen or speaking up. Just then, Ariel shot up and coughed and sputtered out some water, as Eric went to her side and rubbed her back to help her. She was done coughing up water as she looked to Eric, who was relieved and smiled at her, saying, "Next time, Ariel, I might not be so lucky to save you like that."
Ariel just couldn't help but smile at Eric right now. After the awkward silence the two had this morning, and all of his attempts to avoid her, she cried a little being happy that he was speaking to her again. Eric, a little surprised by her crying, was even surprised even more as she glomped on him, hugging him fiercely as she cried a little in happiness at this turn of events. Eric just smiled at this as he held her in his arms, and returned the hug as they sat back up. however, the two heard a small 'Awww' coming from someone as they turned and smiled and blushed from embarrassment as they saw the two soldiers and stranger as the audience to their little cute moment.
Murtogg and Mullroy just smirked at this as one nudged the other at this tender scene. But the stranger just sat Indian style and just calmly observed the two. But then he took notice that they saw him, and he calmly stated, with a smile on his face as he stated, "Oh, Please….don't mind me.", he then waved to them, "Please, continue."
The two teens smirked to each other as they broke their little moment apart. Then Eric turned towards the stranger that helped them as he thanked the stranger, "Thank you for helping her, eh…"
The stranger spotted, "Smith, or Smithy, and don't mention it." A small pause of silence went for a while, until Smithy spoke up again, "But seriously, don't mention it to anyone." It was then that he noticed something around the lass's neck. He reached out, surprising the teens, and saw Ariel's necklace. He touched the golden shell with the Trident insignia with a surprised look on his face. He then looked to the girl and asked with a much serious tone to her, "Where did you get that?"
Then suddenly, storming down upon them at the docks, a couple of naval officers as they surrounded the group. They aimed their weapons at the one named Smithy, as a familiar figure that Eric knew walked down. It was Captain James Norrington, now promoted to Commodore Norrington; though he still pretty much looked the same as he did six years ago, yet there was a lot of wisdom behind his eyes. He then looked down at Smithy and ordered, "On your feet. All of you."
They could tell by the sound of Norrington's voice that he meant it. so with no hesitation, Eric, Ariel, and Smithy stood up, and awaited to whatever the commodore's order was on their fate. Norrington seemed to walk up to Smithy as he studied him for a moment, much to Smithy's dislike of this. Then Norrington stopped in front of the man, and held out his hand, "I believe thanks are in order for rescuing these children, sir."
The two teens looked a little surprised by that as they heard what Norrington said. Ariel knew the truth in that Eric and the stranger were trying to rescue her. She frowned at this Norrington for getting the story wrong, including the well-hidden Dax as he grumbled to himself about this. Smithy hesitated for a moment, but then reached out his hand to shake Norrington's. But when Norrington grabbed his hand, he used his other hand to pull up Smithy's sleeve, to reveal a brand shaped like a P on his forearm. Norrington then looked to Smithy, as he sarcastically asked, "Had a brush with the East India Trading Company, did we…pirate?"
Smithy, now known as a pirate, winced at the notion that he had been caught. He silently cursed himself for stopping and saving that redheaded damsel. Both Ariel and Eric looked surprised by that as they looked at Smithy as Eric asked suddenly, "What?"
Norrington ignored the teens as he ordered his men, "keep your guns on him men. Fetch some handcuffs." The men nodded as they drew out their guns and rifles, and aimed carefully at Smithy. A couple were rummaging for some handcuffs, but didn't pull them out in time as Norrington noticed a tattoo above the brand. It was a tattoo of a sparrow, flying over the ocean and a sun rising. Norrington seemed a little smug by this as he looked to the man and stated, "Well, well…Jack Sparrow isn't it?" And forcefully shoved Jack's hand back.
Eric looked a little surprised by that as he asked out loud, "Sparrow?", and then looked back at Jack as he asked, "The Jack Sparrow?" Eric heard so many stories about pirates from his uncle, but the stories that got to him more were with the modern day pirate known as Jack Sparrow
Jack Sparrow straightened up a bit as he corrected as he looked to Eric, "Capt. Jack Sparrow…if you please."
Then Norrington pointed out as he mockingly looked around and back to Jack, "Well, I don't see your ship…captain."
Jack just snorted, "I'm in the market…as it were."
Then Murtogg popped up, still holding Jack's hat and coat as he replied, "Uh, he said he'd come here to commandeer one, sir."
Mullroy looked to his friend as he pointed out, "Told you he was telling the truth." He then walked up to the Commodore as he held out Jack's weapons and gear, "These are his sir."
Everyone, including Jack who wanted his things returned to him, got a good look at what Jack had on his holster belt.
The holster had only one 9-mm Eagle in the holster, but with a saber sword in the other. But what was attached to the belt by a secured chain, was an odd compass. Norrington took the gun out and ejected the clip, showing that there was only one bullet in it, "No additional clips, nor bullets…" he then took the compass and opened it, showing it wasn't pointing north, "A compass that doesn't point north….", and then he reached for the sword and pulled it out, showing it to be spick and span, as he sarcastically smirked, "…and here, I half expected this to be made out of wood." He then looked to Jack as he insulted his character by saying, "You are without doubt the worst pirate I've ever heard of."
But then Jack half-smirked as he shot back and pointed out, "But you have heard of me."
Norrington just frowned at this as he saw the men coming up with the handcuffs. He then grabbed Jack forcefully and dragged him over to the officers as he ordered, "Get him locked up." And they did so as they cuffed Jack's hands. But someone wasn't about to just let this happen to him.
Eric left Ariel's side for a moment, but she followed him anyway, as he protested, "Commodore, wait a minute!" And then by the Commodore's surprise, Eric and Ariel stood in between him and Jack as the kids tried to make a statement. Eric knew that this guy was a pirate through and through, but if he really was an evil guy, then he could have not helped them. He then stated that fact out loud, "Pirate or not, this guy helped me save my friend's life." He then asked, "Now, I ask you, would an evil man do something like that?"
Norrington shook his head at this boy's naïveté as he stated, "Mr. Thatch, though I would point out that it was he who saved your lives, allow me to remind you that one good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness."
Then Jack shot out as he was still being cuffed, "Though it seems enough to condemn him."
Norrington shot a look at Sparrow in disgust as he muttered out loud, "Indeed."
It was only a few seconds, but the cuffs were finally on his wrists as Jack examined them a bit. He then sighed, "Finally.", and then shoved the officer at his side away as he ran up to Ariel, and brought the cuff's chain around her neck, holding her in a chokehold as she gasped at the slight tug. Everyone was either in shock or pointing their guns at Jack, but Eric stopped them by shouting out not to fire, unless they hit Ariel.
Jack smirked at Eric as he chirped, "I knew you'd warm up to me, lad." He then looked over to the commodore as he ordered, "Commodore Norrington, my effects, please…and my hat." He saw the Commodore hesitated, but then made the chain's grip around Ariel's neck a little tighter as he ordered, "Commodore!" Norrington nodded as he grabbed Jack's things from Mullroy, but then Jack turned his attention to the redhead he was holding hostage; "Ariel….it is Ariel, isn't it?"
Ariel growled at this and answered back, by stepping on his booted foot. Jack grunted as he simply replied through gritted teeth, "Well, love, if you would be as so kind." He motioned for his things as Norrington gave them to Ariel, then Jack hastened, "Come, come, dear. We don't have all day." Ariel then took the stuff in her arms, and then Jack spun her around to face him, as he took the gun from her hand and pointed it to her head, "Now…if you'll be very kind." Ariel knew what he was talking about, and began to refit his belt back to his waist, much to her disgust. During this, Jack motioned towards the boy, but then had a peculiar look on his face. He shook it off as he asked, while politely breaking the ice, "So…she your bonny lass?"
Eric, feeling a little awkward about talking about this, simply replied, "Well, I, uh….", however, he was interrupted by Jack as he nearly groaned from when Ariel stepped on his foot again.
Jack then looked at the girl as he stated and asked, "Easy on the goods, darling." He then raised an eyebrow as he asked the boy, "Not much of a talker, is she?" Ariel then looked at Jack Sparrow with much discontent as she thought, 'You despicable coward! You wouldn't be so tough if you didn't have a hostage…' Jack almost sensed what she was thinking about and simply shrugged, "Sticks n' stones, luv. I helped your boyfriend save your life; you helped save mine. We're all square now."
He then turned her around as he stated to everyone, while backing up a bit, "Gentlemen.", and then turned towards Ariel, "Milady…", he then saw what he needed to see; a pulley attached to a cannon held up high by a crane of sorts. He smirked as he looked back at everyone and released his grip on Ariel, "You lot will always remember this as the day that you almost caught…Captain Jack Sparrow!", and then pushed Ariel into Eric's arms as he made a break for it.
And while they were shortly confused, Jack grabbed the rope tightly as a few Navy officers were coming for him. As they got closer, Jack saw this as a window of opportunity. He then kicked the releasing mechanism on the rope, causing the cannon to come down and bring him up. As he went up, the cannon came crashing down, shattering the spot that Jack stood at and caused some of the soldiers to fall into the water. However, the crane that the rope was attached to began to spin a little, with Jack on it yelling out that he was getting dizzy.
Norrington had enough of this foolishness as he ordered, "Open fire!" And the men did so as they aimed for Jack Sparrow in the air while he shouted to for them to stop, and shot at him, though they completely missed the whole time. However, at the last turn, Jack was able to move his way towards another crane head and jumped on it, with no problems at all. Jack looked around and saw a rope line that led towards the bridge that led off the base. He smirked as he took the cuff's chain and wrapped around it, and then slid off downward.
Norrington shouted, "ON his heels men!" And they all ran after him, leaving behind Eric and Ariel as they watched this escape. They saw Jack land on the other side of the docks as he sprinted like crazy to the bridge, with gunfire trying to hit him with not avail. Norrington stopped to catch his breath and turned to his right-hand man, Gillette, who looked like a pompous soldier as Norrington ordered, "Gillette, Mr. Sparrow has a dawn appointment with the gallows on Sunday." He then sneered, "I would hate for him to miss it."
Dax had shown up with Ariel as the soldiers had left and sighed, "Whoo! That has got to be the craziest pirate I've ever seen in my whole life." Ariel nodded at that and turned to Eric if he agreed with that, but then went surprised as she saw he was gone.
Harcourt Museum
Harcourt Museum was in the center of Port Royal as it stood out as the biggest building on the island, aside from the fort. It resembled the Detroit Museum of Natural History and science in many ways. People were going in and out to learn not only world history, but that of Port Royal's as well. But right now, soldiers were scowering around the area, looking for the said pirate that got away from Norrington. However, if they looked carefully, they would have seen a cloaked figure walking into the museum, with no one bothering to keep an eye out for him.
Port Royal Exhibit
Blacksmith
It had taken a while to find the area, and to the cloaked one's surprise, it was empty with no one around. The area was a complete replica of a blacksmith's home, right down to the last iron horseshoe. The figure removed the cloak to revealing him to be none other than Jack Sparrow as he looked around for something to break the cuffs' chains. He then spotted a hammer and anvil, and got to work immediately. He started to take the hammer and slam it on the chain, but his hands were cuffed together, so it would only mean that when he tried to smack the chain, he would pull it away accidentally. He became frustrated at his failed attempt that he growled as he pulled at his chain.
But then something caught his eye; a machination of gears that powered the burner in the set. He looked around, trying to find some way of using it, and then found a button on the floor as he stepped on it. Suddenly, the whole exhibit came to life, as well as the gears that brought the furnace alive. Then Jack walked over to the gears as he placed the chain in between, and let the gears crushed them as he pulled away. Freedom was his at last as he was about to make his escape, until he heard footsteps coming towards him.
The footsteps came closer and closer, until Eric was in plain sight. He had been looking around for Jack Sparrow for some unknown reason, and knew that this would be the place to find him. The Blacksmith exhibit was the right place to find the right tools to get the cuffs off. He got up into the exhibit and looked around, trying to find any evidence to where Jack Sparrow was. Had he paid any attention, he would have noticed that the mannequin he passed was Jack, keeping an eye on the boy.
It was then that Eric had spotted Jack's hat, and knew right then and there, that he was still here. He walked over it to grab it, only to get his hand smacked by the flat of a sword blade. Eric sharply turned to see none other than Jack Sparrow who walked towards him with the sword in his hand, "I kindly ask you to not touch my hat. But on the inquisitive side, how did you manage to find me, eh?"
Not wanting leave him guessing, Eric simply answered, "There's not that many places that you can find the right tools to get those cuffs off. So why not a place nobody ever goes to on a school day?"
Jack nodded at that but then stopped as he looked at the boy closely. Despite the surfer hairstyle and the ensemble he was wearing, there was something oddly familiar about the boy. He then asked with his head tilted to the left while moving towards Eric pretty calmly with his sword pointed to him, "You seem familiar. Have I threatened you before?"
Eric sighed in exhaustion as he asked himself, 'What is it with pirates and me? That tentacle-bearded maniac asked the same thing.' Regaining his calm yet startled composure, Eric simply replied, "After the last encounter I had with a pirate, I'm trying to make a point of avoiding any familiarities with any right now."
Jack nodded at that as he stated, "Ah. Well then, it would be a shame to put a mark on your current record." He then nodded to the boy as he turned around, "Now, if you'll excuse me." But Eric wasn't about to let this guy getaway with threatening his friend. Out of sheer impulse, Eric grabbed one of the swords on display in the Blacksmith exhibit, and pointed it at Jack, who was walking his way now.
Eric silently cursed himself, screaming in his head, 'IDIOT! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T USE A SWORD!' But he stood there still, holding the blade at Sparrow as jack looked perplexed at this.
He then took his own sword and held it at his side. He raised a quizzical eyebrow at the boy and asked out loud, "You think this is wise, boy? Crossing blades with a pirate?"
Eric lowered his sword a little, but still had it pointed to Jack as he answered, "No, not really. I don't even know how to use one of these things."
"Then why bother when you don't have a chance?", Jack asked on, hoping the boy would falter.
Eric took a deep breath as he replied, "Because you threatened Ariel, that's why."
Jack looked confused at that moment as he looked the other way, trying to remember. But then it clicked as looked back at the boy and replied, "Oh, the redhead." He then shrugged, "Only a little." And then he lunged at the boy, hoping to scare him off with one slash. But instead of panicking and getting hurt, Eric even surprised himself, by blocking his slash. Jack looked a little puzzled by this, but then parried some more, and he and the boy were both surprised that Eric had kept up with blocking him, without having to go on the offensive. The two broke off for a moment, surprised by this turn of events, but then Jack pushed forward, hoping if he couldn't scare the boy, he would just knock the sword out of his hand. But it seemed to prove effortless as the boy continued to block and evade every one of Jack's moves.
The two stopped as they still kept their swords at the ready. Then Jack asked, "Are you sure you've never used one of these?"
A little puzzled by the question, Eric asked, "No, why?"
Jack just shrugged as he pointed out, "Well, you know what you're doing…I'll give you that. Even when you don't know what you're doing. I must admit you've got excellent form; blocked every one of my chances." But then he tapped Eric's sword twice as he started to circle Eric by going to his right, "But how's your footwork? If I were to step here…" and then slashed at Eric, who blocked him once more, as they held their swords together in an upper arch form. Jack nodded, "Very good.", and then walked to the left, "Now, I step again at this side…", and broke the arch as he once again tried to get Eric. But it was the same as the few times before: Jack's moves were constantly blocked by the boy, without even making an offense to the pirate himself. As they stopped for a moment, Jack skip-lunged at Eric to the mid-center, but the boy swipe-blocked it away.
Jack smirked at this and simply said, "Ta.", and then walked away towards the exhibit's exit. Eric shook his head at this, and absentmindedly threw the sword straight at Jack's direction, and it was darted into the wall. Jack looked at the wall-embedded sword, nearly paling at this if the boy had hit him in the head with it. Regaining his composure, Jack turned towards the boy and walked back to him, as he congratulated the boy, "Now that was a wonderful trick you just did there." But then he held his sword's hilt as he stated, "Except, once again, you are between me and my way out of here." And then he drew his sword and held it menacingly at Eric, "But now…you have no weapon."
Eric looked around, and saw one of the other swords, and grabbed it, holding at Sparrow. The pirate then gulped a little at the sixteen year old boy and pressed on the button again, starting the exhibit up again. Jack ran towards the gears to escape, but this time, Eric was on the offensive as he slashed at Jack, who narrowly blocked. The two were now performing a magnificent, if one sided, sword-fight as Jack was trying to keep up with this fresh, yet skilled blocking, novice. He knocked the sword out of Eric's hand and slashed right at him. Luckily, the boy roll-dodged it as he went for another sword as the two dueled some more. But then Jack, as he was looking around the swords, discovered during their duel, that they were pretty much real. He then asked out, "Who makes all these?"
Eric answered, blocking another strike from Jack as he answered, "They weren't made; they were cleaned and refurbished." He then blocked another one as he dodged Jack's advances from behind the gears as he answered, "My uncle works here…", and dodge another as he finished, "…so he let's me help him…", and dodged a stab thrust from Jack as he finished, "…and practice their durability three hours on Thursday…", and slashed at Jack as he finished, "…when he's not away with Mr. Harcourt."
Jack simply replied as he escaped Eric's offense, and quirked, "You need to find yourself a girl, Mate." And then the two grabbed an extra sword, and now they were dueling with dual swords in their hands. Jack had to admit, this kid was giving him a run for his money on this. Even Eric was impressed with himself on this as he tried to parry away from Jack. But then the two were in a blade lock, facing down on one another, well it was Jack facing down to the boy, as he then pointed out, "Or…perhaps the reason you practice three hours on Thursday and do whatever you do the rest of the week, is that you've already found one….", Eric didn't like where this was going as Jack finished, "…and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet." But then Jack had a face of worry and disgust on his face as he asked Eric, "You're not a eunuch, are you?"
Eric, now feeling a little annoyed by this guy, finally shouted out, "The only reason I practice three hours a day on Thursday with these things…is because I've got nothing better to do with my time!"
Jack just merely shrugged, "Ah.", and then the two broke away and continued their duel. Which it led towards a two-wheeled cart as Jack stepped on it first, followed by Eric. Unfortunately the weight caused them both to have to balance it as they tried to fight each other, while balancing the cart they were on. Though Eric had an idea, and when Jack thrusted at him with one sword, Eric twisted it around, causing the chain that was still cuffed to Jack's wrist, to get twisted on the hilt, and then shot it upward to a wooden beam, getting it stuck up there. Jack, trying to get it loose, dropped one of the swords and held up, trying to use his weight to loosen it.
Eric didn't know what to do at this point, but just watch the strange scene play out. But then Eric noticed something as he saw where they were and paled at this; the cart was now rigged up as a seesaw. Eric was about to get off, but then Jack got the sword freed, and fell on the other end, sending Eric shooting upward on the beam. After Jack regained his composure, he looked around to see where the boy had disappeared off to. He walked along the seesaw cart as he went to look for the boy, but then he spotted Eric standing on top of the beam…along with a heavy sack he helped push over on the other side of the cart, shooting Jack upward to join the boy on the beam.
Then the two looked at one another, and started the duel all over again with only one sword in hand. Their swords clanged and slashed together, while they tried to keep themselves balanced on the beam as best as they could. And continued to duel, until finally, Eric knocked Sparrow's sword out of his hand. He then pointed his sword at Jack, as he half smirked, "I win."
Jack cringed for a moment, looking around for a way out. And then spotted his gun back on the anvil, right where he left it. He then turned back towards Eric and just waved, then jumped back down. Eric followed suit to catch up to him with his sword still in his hand. The two stopped for a moment, as Jack looked to one of the swords near the furnace, as Eric looked to it as well. The two stared off for what lasted like a few minutes, and then Eric ran towards it. As he reached for it, he heard a gun's hammer being clicked. He turned around and then came face-to-face with Jack, holding his Silver Eagle at him in point-blank range. Eric got the message and dropped both the swords, but then looked to Sparrow as he complained, "You cheated."
Jack just merely smirked as he shrugged at the boy, "Pirate. Hello?"
And just when things couldn't get any worse, they heard footsteps and soldiers shouting. It was pretty evident that someone had heard their little duel and told the officers all about it. Jack knew this wasn't good and was about to bolt for it, until Eric stepped in his way. Jack held the gun at the boy's face as he ordered, "Move away."
Eric shook his head, "No."
Jack sighed as he pleaded, "Please, move?"
"No!", Eric shouted, still holding his spot firm and true.
Jack sighed as he stated, "Look, as much as it pains me to say, but even though I'm a pirate…I'm not a murderer. So I would really like to go now before I end up using this shot by accident."
Then Eric shot out, "Then why do you have that gun?"
Jack clicked the hammer once more as he stated, "Because this shot, is not meant for anyone else except for…."
SMASH!
Surprised by that, Eric saw a bottle get smashed at the back of Jack's head. Jack's face went from determined to surprise, and in a few seconds, he went limp and fell to the floor unconscious. Eric looked at the unconscious body, and then to whoever had struck him on the head. He was surprised to see it was none other than Ariel, taking deep breaths from when she had to run over to where Dax told her he'd be at.
And then suddenly, the three were surrounded by Navy officers with their guns at the ready as a few shouted, "There he is! Over there!", and then aimed their weapons at the unconscious Jack Sparrow, in case he tried anything. And out of the crowd, strolled in Mister Norrington as he stopped and looked at the heap on the floor. And then back at Eric as he stated…to Ariel, "Excellent work, Miss. You've assisted in the capture of a dangerous fugitive."
Ariel felt insulted, seeing that she was taking all the credit to Eric's work. She was about to walk up to him and point that out, until she was stopped by Eric, who merely stated, "She was just doing her civic duty, sir."
Norrington pointed out to the boy, "Which is more than what I could say about you, Mr. Thatch." He then pointed tot the girl, "You could learn something from her." Eric shrugged at that, with Ariel noticing from Eric that it was pointless that Norrington would ever accept the truth. He then looked at the unconscious form of Jack Sparrow as he insultingly stated, "Well, I trust you will always remember that this is the day that Jack Sparrow almost escaped." He then signaled his men and ordered, "Get these kids out of here, and take him away."
Later that Day
Thatch Household
The door opened up, and Ariel stormed in, feeling a little angry. She was still fuming on how that man, Norrington, couldn't see that it was Eric who had nearly taken that pirate out of the game. Dax was doing his best not to laugh at this, but Sebastian was worrying himself silly as he stated out loud, "First it was the Flying Dutchman, then it was the Sea Witch, and now a pirate." He then threw his claws in the air as he shouted, "WHAT'S NEXT?"
Dax just padded the little crab's head as he simply stated, "Ah, don't get your shell in a twist." He then pointed to the two teens who ignored the critters as they made their way up the stairs. Then Dax nudged the little crab as he pointed to the teens, "Right now Eric's gonna be having a little moment with Ariel. And a certain thing he needs to ask her."
Ariel had cooled down a little as she sighed in relief after the day. Even though things had gone a little bad for her at the start, she was still happy that Eric had spoken to her again. She smirked as she went to open the door to her room, but was stopped as a familiar voice popped up, "Ariel?" She turned around and smiled, seeing Eric right behind her, but looked as nervous as a jittering fiddler crab. She raised an eyebrow, wondering what he had to be so nervous about around her.
Eric rubbed the back of his neck with much nervous intention at what he was about to ask. Dax had told him all about the dance this Thursday, which was strictly tomorrow, and that they would get them prepared for it; the two critters and Frey who had agreed to this. But the truth was, Eric was slightly nervous about this as he looked to Ariel, who was slightly confused. He then just decided to get it out and just ask, "You know...this Thursday…there's this dance...do you...you know...wanna go with me?" he asked nervously. The truth was that he had never been to a dance. Well not with someone before.
Ariel was a little startled by that question, as she thought to herself and looked at Eric, 'He…He's asking me out? On a dance?' She couldn't be happier about this as she glomped on Eric in a warm hug.
Eric just smirked, as he felt his heart beat faster at this as he remarked, "I'll take that as a yes."
Next Chapter: So Close; Another Unfair Deal