Aquatic Kingdom Hearts

Chapter 14: Into the Sea; To the Rescue

Sea Serpent Pass

The Flying Dutchman

The mighty vessel that was the Flying Dutchman was berthed at Sea Serpent Pass. But more specifically, it was ported at Ursula's lair, and near a huge crevice that seemed to stretch on forever to the bottom, and it was littered with the bones of humans, Merpeople, or any sea creature that was scattered to the cracked sides. The Flying Dutchman's crew was walking around, getting ready for a few visitors to arrive. They were setting up everything that was needed in order to prepare for the second guest, after the first one would have arrived.

Ursula slunked over at the help, waiting for the first guest to arrive; in truth, she was expecting this, seeing that the Princess was back in the water. She knew that the one she was waiting would rush in first without even thinking or planning ahead. She smirked evilly as she told herself, "If Triton's anything other than calm; it's being stubborn and headstrong." She chuckled at this as she knew that his stubbornness would throw him into her little lion's den.

Meanwhile, down in the brig, Ariel was sitting on one of the benches. She had now dressed back into her purple seashell bikini top, her pearl arm bracelet, and her mother's necklace. The human clothing she still had, even though she reverted back to a mermaid, was placed in a bag next to her. She took it hand held it close to her chest as she frowned; she had missed her final chance, and would now have to serve an eternity aboard the Flying Dutchman. She then sighed sadly, as she told herself, "In…in the end I couldn't even stay with the one boy I care about." She held the bag close to her, as she apologized to everyone that was important to her, "I'm sorry, Daddy…Sebastian…Scuttle…Flounder…Dax…My sisters….", and then she buried her face into the bag, to try and hide her tears, which didn't appear seeing that she was back underwater, "I'm sorry…Eric."

And then suddenly, she was shot in attention as she heard the brig door opening. She looked up and saw Maccus, accompanied by Greenbeard and Clanker from behind. Maccus smirked evilly as he mockingly said to the frightened but angered girl, "Alright, Poppet…it's time."

Back on Deck

Ursula drummed her fingers on the railing towards the helm impatiently, while Davy Jones looked around with his spyglass, keeping a fresh eye out. The first guest should have been here, considering a few fish had spotted the Dutchman…as well as their newest crew member. And those fish folk would blab out to the only person who had been sending out search parties day and night for the past six days. It wasn't hard to know that Triton had been worried sick and sending out search parties left and right to find his youngest daughter. She fumed impatiently as she growled, "Where is he? He should be here by now!"

Jones looked at Ursula, pretty annoyed, and folded his spyglass back up. He then waltzed on over to Ursula's side as he calmed her down with a pat on the shoulder, "Patience, oh Slimy-limbed Witch…remember, Patience is a virtue…" but then Ursula forced his hand off as she grabbed it.

She looked at the captain furiously as he snarled at him, threatening, "Be very cautious around me, Davy Jones. Don't forget…aside from you, I know where your weakness is hidden." She then leaned in towards his face as she evilly smiled her teeth at him as she threatened, "So don't overstep your boundaries on telling me what to do…or it will be the end of you." She then turned away as she made her way.

But then Jones grabbed her by the wrist with his crab claw, as he barked at her, "DON'T forget why you still need me alive, Ursula! Or why you 'enlisted' my help at all!" Getting her attention, he snarled, "Calypso created the Three Hearts of the Sea to govern the waters in her absence. To give the three races a chance to balance the Seas at all for them all to be at peace with one another. He or she who controls all three hearts controls the oceans as the new Sea Goddess." He then let go, "So don't forget, that you already have one Heart in your service."

Ursula broke his grip on her as she snarled and glared at him, "Oh, I haven't forgotten, Jones. Nor do I have any intention of forgetting at all."

Just then, before the two could tear at each other's throats, Maccus had just arrived. Following him up the stairs was Greenbeard and Clanker as they held a struggling Ariel, trying to break free from their grip. Maccus reported, "Sir! We have the Princess, just as you ordered."

Ursula saw that Ariel was doing her best to break free of the pirates. She continued to struggle, even when she was being brought near Ursula and Davy Jones as she didn't want to see them at all. The last thing she needed right now were those two gloating at her, seeing that they won. Ursula, sensing what was troubling the girl, evilly smirked as she slithered over to her, and reached out to her. Ariel tried to break away from Ursula from stroking her hand on her face, but no such luck. Ursula then replied, in a mocking tone of concern and endearment, "Oh, poor little princess. It's not you I'm after; it never was." She smirked as she looked to Jones, "We've a much bigger fish to fry…"

"Ursula, stop!", commanded a voice of authority.

And then suddenly, a yellow blast was shot at them, nearly at an inch of the villains' feet. And where the shot had hit was a smoking hole at the feet of Davy Jones and Ursula. They, the crew, and even Ariel looked upward, to see where the shot had come from. And it was none other than King Triton himself, as he swam downward, holding his glowing trident at the ready. Swimming next to him was Sebastian, who had told him of the entire scheme. Despite the fact that And boy, did he look pretty miffed as he glared at Ursula, "I would have expected such an atrocity from you, Ursula." And then he looked at Jones as his glare intensified, and growled at Davy Jones, "But never would I suspect you to work with her." he then looked to his youngest daughter, whom Clanker and Greenbeard still had a tight grip on, and asked with concern, "Ariel, are you alright?"

She weakly nodded as she replied, "I'm alright, Daddy. But listen, you have to know what they…" but she was silenced as Greenbeard placed a hand on her mouth.

Triton snarled at this as he threatened with shi trident pointed at the villains, "Let her go."

Ursula snarled as she pointed to Ariel, "Not a chance, Triton. She's mine now!", she then smirked as she pulled out the glowing yellow contract that Ariel had signed, and gloated as she waved it in his face, "We made a deal, dear old Daddy."

And then Jones stepped up as he barked out, "Her debt to me is still to be satisfied. An eternity in servitude aboard the Dutchman…as a start!"

Ariel then pulled forward, to try and plead with her father; to tell him that she didn't mean to do this to anger him. But Greenbeard's and Clanker's hold on her was even stronger as before when she struggled. She looked to her father with a pleading look as she cried out to him, "Daddy, I'm sorry! I…I..I didn't mean to. I didn't know; I'm sorry!"

Triton glared, not at his daughter, but at the fiends that did this to her. He snarled even more at them as his grip on the trident tightened even more. He then lifted the weapon in his hand as it glowed and crackled with golden energy. And then he shot a blast at Ursula, which hit dead on, sending her slamming into the mast. However, all it did was cause Ursula to gloat even more…as the contract wasn't even scratched or burnt. Ursula chuckled, as she smirked triumphantly as she swam back to a stunned Triton, "You see? The contract that Davy Jones and I made is legal, binding, and completely unbreakable." She then rolled it back up as she tapped the end at Triton, "Even for you."

She then smirked as it was time to bring the plan into fruition. She then edged on as she circled Triton like a vulture would with its prey, "Of course…I always was a girl with an eye for a bargain."

Triton snarled but kept his temper in check, remembering that his child was in danger, "What do you want, Ursula?"

Smirking at this, but then switched to a satisfied shrug as she stated, "I don't know….the daughter of the great Sea King is a very precious commodity." She then nodded to Jones as he smirked triumphantly, and then walked near Ariel. She struggled to break free of the two pirates that held her but to no avail as Davy Jones walked closer. He then held up his right hand, and his palm suddenly split open to reveal a nasty barnacle with black jagged teeth. This was the technique that marked the crew with the Black Spot; the slave insignia that proved you were a crewmember aboard the Flying Dutchman, and Jones was about to 'mark' Ariel with it.

Ariel shuddered and gasped as Jones walked forward, with his hand extended forward. Clanker chuckled evilly as he grabbed Ariel's hand, and held it out for Jones to 'mark' with the Black Spot. Ariel tried to pull away, but the pirates kept her in place, as Jones inched even further. And just when his hand reached hers in order to mark her with the Black Spot, he was stopped when Ursula shouted to King Triton when he was about to stop him, "BUT…." Everyone turned to the Sea Witch as she circled Triton one more time as she stated, "…I might be able to make an exchange…", and then traced one of her tentacles on his trident as she smirked with devilish glee at her plan working, "….for someone, even better."

Not Too Far Away

Out of the darkness and of the ocean itself, three figures swam on over towards Sea Serpent Pass. Flounder swam in front to lead the way, with Dax following behind him, looking pretty nervous. Eric, on the other hand, was a little worried as he swam next to the two; he was worried that they were a little too late to get to the Dutchman, and to help Ariel. He had learned from Dax, surprisingly, to what happens to a person who joins the Dutchman; those who are bound in servitude, year after year, they lose a part of themselves…just like those pirates aboard that ship did.

Flounder stopped as he swam near a rocky cliffside, and pointed out, "Over there, guys; I can see the ship." Dax and Eric swam upward to Flounder and hid behind the rocks. There, they saw Ursula's lair, as well as the Flying Dutchman, and from the look of things, the two were talking with a buffed up merman holding a trident. Eric immediately realized it was none other than Ariel's father, King Triton; he figured it out considering he had seen pictures of him during his research on Merpeople, but he3 had no idea that he would see him in the flesh and blood.

But something also caught their eye as they looked down near Ursula's lair and the crevice. Near it was a graveyard of ships, and stopping to look up at the Dutchman, was a brand of Mermen that Eric never saw in the book. They looked light green with fins for hair and better swimming control; they almost resembled Eels, wearing armor made of Shark bones and teeth. Dax recognized them as the scavengers of the Merpeople: Mer-Eels. He cringed and groaned as he complained, "Mer-Eels. Why did it have to be Mer-Eels? I hate Mer-Eels."

Eric looked to the otter as he asked, "Are they that bad?"

Dax sarcastically chuckled as he asked, "Are they bad? Kid, those things are the worst kind of Merfolk ever. They're scavengers that'll eat anything or anybody, bottom-feeders…a bunch of backstabbers if you will." He then looked to Eric like he had all the answers, and asked, "So what's your plan on gettin' past those guys?"

Eric turned towards Dax, and then turned back towards the Mer-Eels as he answered, "Live bait."

Dax nodded at that, "Good idea.", but then stopped as he realized something. He frowned as he looked towards Eric, knowing full well what the boy was thinking, "Hey!"

Eric looked at Dax seriously as he stated, "C'mon, Dax. You and Flounder need to create a diversion, while I try and sneak onboard the Dutchman."

Dax looked at Eric with a raised eyebrow and his hands on his hip as he asked sarcastically, "What do ya want me to do? Dress a drag and do the Hula for them?"

A Few Minutes Later

The Mer-Eels were watching the Flying Dutchman. It had only been a few minutes since Triton had come around to try and get his daughter back from them. Right now, their leader was planning another bargain with the Sea King at the moment. But then suddenly, a Hawaiian tune was playing as they turned and saw something strange. Dax was standing in plain sight, with a sea flower on his left ear, and in a hula skirt with a flower necklace around his neck. Next to him was Flounder, with a coral reef shaped like a platter plate and with a sea fruit resembling an apple was in his mouth. And then Dax danced a little jig while singing a Hawaiian tune,

Luau!

If ya hungry for a hunk of fat, and juicy meat,

Eat my buddy, Flounder here, he is a real treat

Con on down and dine, on this tasty find,

All you have to do is get in line!

The Mer-Eels didn't know what to make of this, but their basic instincts kicked in. They slowly swam towards the two, both seeing a tasty treat as they pictured both Dax and Flounder as edibles. Flounder and Dax saw this and were freaking out, but kept their cool, as they continued,

Are ya achin'…

Yep, yep, yep!

…for some bacon?

Yep, yep, yep!

He's a big fish!

Yep, yep!

You can be the big fish too! Oy!

And as soon as they were done with the song, the Mer-Eels were close enough. With ravenous hunger written all over their faces, they were about to eat the duo. But then Dax and Flounder both screamed like a couple of lunatics, and swam off with incredible speed, while being chased by the Mer-Eels. And while the enemy army was chasing after their dinner-to-go, Eric swam as stealthy as he could towards the Dutchman, while and unforeseen deal was commencing.

Aboard the Dutchman

Ariel, who had stopped struggling, paled as she heard the deal that Ursula had made with Triton. She couldn't believe that was what Ursula had in mind for this transaction. She would sever Ariel's debt of an eternity aboard the Flying Dutchman….in exchange for the Sea King's freedom. Ariel snapped out of her shocked state as she pleaded to her father, "Daddy, please! Don't do it; don't…", but was once again muffled by Greenbeard, who growled at her.

Davy Jones, slightly smirking at this as he smoked a pipe of sea-magma-induced fire, stated the deal out pretty obviously as he tapped his pipe on his crab claw, "So…which will it be, Triton? Your freedom…or the girl's?"

Ursula, ignoring the princess, held the contract up, as she smirked at Triton evilly, as she asked him, "Now…do we have a deal?"

Triton looked at the contract with much doubt in this decision. But then he looked back at his youngest daughter; he knew that she was in this mess because he let his temper get the better of him. He had hurt his daughter by destroying her human collection; even though he knew she wasn't supposed to, he knew that collection meant something to her. he knew right here and now, this was the only way to pay for that mistake. He turned his face away, and aimed the Trident at the contract. And with a tiny shot of energy from the Trident, the Sea King, signed it with his own signature.

Ursula smiled insanely at this; her plan finally coming together as she cackled out loud, "HA! It's done then!"

Ariel was then let go as she floated there, looking at her father in saddened shock. She then snapped out of it as she swam up to him and hugged him. She then apologized to her father, with a saddened voice, "Daddy, I'm sorry. If it wasn't for me, you'd…"

Triton then returned the hug to Ariel as he said, "There, there, Ariel. It's not your fault; I'm the one's to blame." He then broke the hug, but still held onto his daughter as he looked at her with much care in his eyes and voice, "If anyone's to blame for all this, it's me. I shouldn't have been so hard on you, or destroy your collection."

Ariel couldn't believe what she was hearing; her father apologized to her for destroying her human collection. She just couldn't help but give him a sad smile, and then hugged him back. But then the two were pulled apart by Maccus and Clanker, who grabbed Ariel, and by Ogilvey and Koleniko grabbed Triton and chained him up. Ariel struggled as she tried to break free of the pirates just to be at her father's side. Ogilvey snatched the Trident from Triton's hand, and then Jones walked up to his less-than-human crewman and took the Trident from him. He then walked up to Ursula and handed her the Trident, as he would a sword.

Ursula's eyes showed the reflection of the Trident, with much greed for power in them. She then slowly took the trident, and smiled evilly as its golden glow turned dark, due to the nature of its new master. She then cackled, "At last…the First Heart of the Sea; the power to govern and control the ocean's waters and weather…the key to crossing the Lair of the Leviathan; the Gateway to the Next Heart…is finally…mine."

Triton, being very angry at seeing his daughter reprimanded still, struggled in the tightened. But the chains were barnacle-tipped, so they slightly cut through his skin, causing him to bleed, but only a little. However, his anger outweighed his pain as he glared at Ursula and Jones. He then berated, "Ursula, you lying hag! You said you'd let my daughter go! That was the deal!"

Then Davy Jones shouted at the imprisoned Triton, "DON'T DARE IMPUNE MY HONOR, TRITON!", he then calmly stated, "I agreed to sever the debt I had with your daughter….", but then he laughed, along with his men as he finished, "…but you failed to sever the debt she had with Ursula." He then looked over to Ariel, who was still held on to by Maccus and Clanker, and then ordered, "Get her ready for the boy's arrival…she'll be playing the role for bait, after all."

The men nodded, and took the struggling Ariel near to what appeared to be an old anchor. As they did to Eric and Frey, they tied her to it, crucified style. And then, the crew hoisted her upward, and over the black abyss that the Dutchman was berthed at. Ursula watched the whole thing, and then thought about something; she knew this would be too easy a trap to get out of. She then snickered at the thought as she swam over to Jones, who was still near Triton, "Jones! I have an idea to spice up our trap.", she then evilly looked at Ariel, and then at the Abyss, and spoke in a low and scheming tone, "Summon…the Beast."

Davy Jones then sharply turned his head towards her direction, with a look of shock. He then raised an eyebrow as he asked, "Are you serious?", he then pointed to his men as he encouraged, "My men handled the human boy the last time. Let them deal with him…."

"They couldn't handle the human when they were on shore.", Ursula interrupted as she sharply looked at him with an evil grin, "I need something that can ensure the two will be gone for good."

Davy Jones raised an eyebrow and stroked his chin wth his claw in thought. He then finally asked to confirm what he was listening to, "So you want me to summon my pet…in order to get rid of two children for you." He saw Ursula nod at that, and then he just shook his head in disapproval at this, "Oh, that's just despicable.", but then his face twisted to that if insane and evil glee at this idea, "I love it!"

Triton then growled as he butted in, "You're preparing to summon an ancient sea creature to deal with one barbarian?"

Ursula then swam over to Triton and then, to Triton's disgust, wrapped an arm around him. He then mockingly asked, "Tell me, Triton. Did you ever wonder why your dear little daughter made a deal with me?" she hten pointed at Ariel with the Trident, and then answered, "She did it in order to become human…to be with the human boy that captured her heart."

Triton, not believing a word, defied that as he replied, "That's a lie! No humna would risk their life to save a merperson!"

Ursula pulled away as she shrugged, "Uh, who cares what you think." She then turned as she heard grunting sounds and swam over to the rail. She then saw the crewmen turn a huge wheel, with a piston being slowly pulled upward. She then signaled Oglivey and Koleniko to bring Triton over to see this. When he was close enough, Ursula grabbed Triton by the chin as she malicously said, "You….get to watch this."

Jimmylegs maniacally whipped the men to make them go faster with turning the wheel. While at the same time in doing his duty, was taking great pleaseure in the men's suffering. As he did so, Davy Jones walked up to the helm as he chanted out to his men, Ursula, a worried Triton, and a still struggling Ariel, who was being dangled at the abyss, "Let no joyful voice be heard!" another whipping sound accompanied by a groan, and the wheel was cranking the piston higher, as Jones continued, "Let no man look up at the sky with hope!", another whipping as the piston got higher and higher, "And let this day be cursed by we who ready to wake ...", the piston was high enough, and then Jones looked at the Abyss with a much insane look in his face and eyes as he shouted out, "…the Kraken!!!!"

Triton shouted in fear and pleading at this whole thing, "NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!", and then the piston shot down, creating a huge underwater booming echo, that washed over the water and rocks below the ship. Eric, who was sneaking at the side of the ship, and not being noticed, had seen the whole thing on what was going on. And he also felt she booming echo that the ship had made, and saw as he swam up to the mast, going unnoticed by anyone at that point, as he saw what he was looking at.

All was silent, as the men looked over from the railing of the ship. They looked down at the calm and quiet abyss, awaiting for this myserious beast tehir captain called the Kraken. Ariel, who was being held out by a crane-like structure of the ship, was dangling out like fishing bait. She struggled to break free, but then stopped as she, and everyone aboard the Dutchman, heard a menacing, deep growl coming from the bottom of the darkened abyss. And then, a look of fear was shown on Ariel's face as she saw something slither out of the shadows. Huge, massive green and brown tentacles, ten times as big as the Dutchman started to slither on the walls of the abyss, and headed straight for her. And then, Ariel's fear grew even worse when she, and everyone else saw a circular mouth pop with the tentacles; the interior lined up with six sets fo spiked, razor-sharp teeth, with the sixth set resembling crab claw legs as they flexed outward, awaiting its meal.

Ursula then smirked evilly as she stated out loud, almost giving a speech to the crew, "Make no doubt, that boy will just be another corpse to add to the Kraken's foul dragon breath."

"Not today, you fat sea cow!"

Everyone, the pirates, Davy Jones, Ursula who was a little miffed at that sea cow comment, Triton, and even Ariel, turned to see who had said that. But Ariel immediately recognized the voice, but seemed to have some disbelief at it being underwater. But when she saw who it was, she couldn't believe what she saw as she saw him. It was Eric, with a Mer-Dolphin's tail and fin, floating at the top of the main mast, holding on to the rope, and looking down towards everyone.

Ariel smiled as she cried to him, "Eric!"

Jones raised an eyebrow as he asked to himself, as well as Ursula, "He's a merman, now?"

Ursula shrugged as she waved it off, "Merman, boy, what's the difference?", she then pointed to the boy with the Trident as she arrogantly mocked, "Well, boy. I'm glad you came all this way to help the little princess out. Too bad you didn't come prepared well enough."

Eric could care less as he shouted, "Let Ariel and her father go! Now!"

Triton couldn't believe what he was seeing or hearing from this human turned merperson. He was demanding that he and his daughter be released. On top of that, he came all this way to help, even probably knowing that he knew this was a trap set up for him. But still, here he was, risking his safety and life for his…and that of his daughter's. then Ursula slinked over to the stairway to the railing as she clutched the Trident like a cane as it glowed dark golden yellow, "You want her back, Lover Boy?", and then she pointed the trident at the rope held Ariel in place over the abyss, and over the Kraken, and shot it with a bolt of energy, "….THEN GO GET HER!"

The rope that was holding Ariel, and that was shot at, snapped, as the rope came loose on the anchor. Without the proper anchorage, the anchor then fell towards the Kraken-infested Abyss, with Ariel screaming out in fear. Eric, who was a little stunned by this, bolted from his spot as he charged straight forward to save her. He caught her and began to try and break the ropes, but not until the tentacles came crashing down at them; the tentacles crashing around the abyss' walls. And suddenly, a jet of black ink was shot all aroudn the abyss, covering the Kraken's movements.

Flounder and Dax, who had just escaped the Mer-Eels, had arrived at the scene. They had just seen Ariel and Eric, getting thrown at the Kraken, and heard the still roaring and rumbling that the Kraken had made still as it attempted to eat its small snack. Even those aboard the Dutchman were wondering if the Kraken was taking its time with its meal.

But what no one realized was that the two had narrowly escaped into a pocket cave. It was only a few split seconds, but Eric was able to until the ropes that held Ariel to the anchor and spotted the cave nearby, with quick planning, and a lot of luck in dodging the tentacles, they reached into the cave and away from the beast as it thrashed around in empty water. The two were now huddled in the cave, with Ariel holding on to Eric as the beast kept thrashing. Eric sighed in relief, and then he looked at the girl in his arms as she looked up to him, and she smiled as she asked, "Eric. You're a…you're a Mer-Dolphin."

Eric smirked as he held up his wrist that had the bracelet that Tia Dalma had given him, "Yeah, it's sort of a Rent-a-Fin, thanks to this."

At that moment, however, Ariel just crashed into Eric, nearly hitting him into the wall, in an embraced hug. She buried her face into his chest, as she tearfully whispered, "You came back…"

Eric smiled as he held Ariel in his arms and just replied, "Of course I came back, I…", but then suddenly, the two froze for a moment. They had the feeling that something was watching them as they turned around. The two paled and gulped as they saw a massively large round eye that reflected the two; an eye that was colored flaming orange in its iris and black X-shaped pupil. It looked at the two with much ravenous hunger as it growled in anticipation. Eric looked to see if there was anyway out, and no such luck. The only way out was where the Kraken's eye was currently blocking. He then looked to Ariel, and then stated, "I think we're gonna have to put our reunion on hold, Ariel. You wait here until I can lure the squid away. When you see your chance, get back to the Dutchman, get your father, and get out of here."

Ariel looked in shock and fright as she heard him say that. She pleaded to him as she grabbed his shoulders, "Eric, no! don't do it! You could get eaten."

Eric took a deep breath, as he looked at Ariel with much concern in this matter. And he simply replied, "It's either that or we both get eaten." And then, taking her by surprise, he lightly kissed her on the forehead as he looked at her in the eyes once more, "Don't worry…I'll come out of this alright. I'm not about to die yet.", and then he swam forward straight towards the eye, and balling up his right fist, and bringing it back, punched the exposed eye's pupil.

The Kraken roared in annoyance as it thrashed around, trying to rub its now irritated eye. Eric shot out of the cave and into the open, catchign the Kraken's attention. It roared angrily as it shot out with its tentacles, trying to catch him. Ariel peered out of the cave, and looked terrified as the Kraken tried to get him. She shouted in fright, "Eric! Eric, look out!" and he did so as he swam upward, letting the Kraken follow him. As it did, Ariel swam upward towards the Dutchman to free her father.

Back at the Dutchman

The pirates, Davy Jones, and even Ursula were watching with curiosity as they saw movement heading for them. Then suddenly, out of the blackened water surface of the Abyss, Eric shot upward and curved straight towards Ursula's lair. Ursula snarled at this, seeing that the boy was still alive. And then out shot forward a massive giant squid with its massive tentacles trying to get the boy, its head base being a long, shapr tail similar to that of a squid's. As all eyes were turned towards the Kraken's chase, Ariel swam upward towards the Dutchman, without getting spotted.

As soon as Eric had reached the lair, he stopped, seeing the Kraken head right for him. As soon as he waited for it, Eric fast and sharply got out of the way, causing the rampaging Kraken to destroy the Sea Witch's lair. And it did as it crashed right through, causing it to crumble down, but not destroying the Seaweed creature's garden, but merely exposing them. Ursula's jaw dropped to the deck as she saw her lair destroyed, and then growled at the boy as he shot upward near the surface with the Kraken still following behind him, reaching out with its tentacles.

She looked to the pirates as she shouted, "Well, don't just stand there gawking!", she pointed at the boy as she ordered, "Blast him out of the water!" Maccus, Oglivey, and even Koleniko ran towards three of the upper deck cannons, as they loaded them, and aimed right for the boy. Seeing that Dax and Flounder had arrived in the scene, along with a confused Sebastian, they saw the three pirates taking careful aim at him. The three knew what they had to do and Sebastain cried out, "Come on, you two!", and then charged at the three pirates. Dax pounced at Oglivey's face, pulling at the lone eye and causing the pirate to run around screaming to get it off him. Sebastain got right behind Maccus, and with his claws, pinched the hammerhead's butt as he cried out in pain, taking misaim and shot at the already demolished lair. Flounder was whacking at Koleniko's face, causing him to get disoriented.

Ursula just groaned at this as she rubbed her forehead, "I'm surrounded by idiots." She then held the Trident as it started to glow as she took aim for Eric, "If you want something done right, do it yourself."

Ariel swam onboard, without having Jones or Ursula notice her. She then made her way to her surprised father as he whispered with fatherly concern, "I thought were gone forever, Ariel."

Ariel smiled as she undid the chains, "I'm not that easy to get rid of." But as she tried and freed her father, she noticed the contract that Ursula had on her. As long as the contract remained in her possession or even existed, Ursula still had her father's freedom. But what made matters worse, was she saw the Sea Witch, aiming the Trident at Eric. She nearly gasped at this as she charged right for her, and pulled at the back of Ursula's hair.

Feeling the slight twinge of pain, Ursula shrieked in pain as she was forced to forfeit her aim and shot the other way. Instead of hitting the boy, she hit the Kraken's eye, not destroying it, but blinding it's eyesight. However, the blast caused it to become a tad disoriented as it came crashing downward at the Dutchman. However, as Eric saw that the Kraken was knocked out and headed right for the Dutchman, one of the two massive main tentacles, came crashing forward at him, knocking him out and sending him hurdling to the ground.

Ursula turned towards Ariel as she used her tentacles to slam the girl into the railing. As Ariel tried to ready herself back up, she gasped as she saw Ursula, snarling and aiming the trident at her as she howled, "Don't fool with me, ya little brat!" but then she heard the wailing sound as Ursula and Jones looked behind them and saw the Kraken heading right for them. Ariel, Trident, along with Flounder, Sebastian, and Dax who had somehow gotten a hold of Ariel's bag, abandoned ship as the Kraken crashed on to the Flying Dutchman's captain's cabin. The sea critters and Merfolk looked as they saw the Kraken's mouth crashed onto the captain's cabin, and in a fast motion, the Trident landed right at Triton's feet as he reached up and once again, reclaimed his weapon.

Davy Jones rubbed his sore, barnacle-encrusted bottom as he and the men got back up. As soon as the men were back in shape, Jones took notice on his pet's status, and that the Sea Witch was nowhere to be seen. However, Ursula's whereabouts were finally answered as everyone saw the Kraken's mouth being pried open. Ursula was inside, and screaming frantically, trying to get out, but the Kraken closed its mouth in annoyance. The Kraken got fed up and spat the Sea Witch out. As Ursula regained her bearings, she noticed something important as she felt her sides, and paled in realization, "The contract! I lost it to that stupid sea beast!"

Jones then noticed as he answered very calmly, "Not to mention the Trident."

Ursula snarled in disbelief and anger as she yelled, "This is all that Mermaid and boy's doing! When I get my hands on….!" But then, she stopped as she heard the Kraken's lips smacking. The Kraken had a strange taste in its mouth when the Sea Witch was in it…and then came to the conclusion that it was a nice snack. So with it's vision finally clearing up, the Kraken's hunger, turned towards Ursula. The Sea Witch paled at this as she scooted back, as the tentacles came for her, "Oh, no!" she scooted back as she ordered the beast, "Now, now, stay away!" but then the Kraken got her as she screamed out, while she was being pulled towards the Abyss with the Kraken, "AAAHHHH! WHA-JONES! AAAAHHHH!", she dug her nails into the wood as she tried to anchor herself, while looking hyserically terrified at this.

Davy Jones stood there, slightly confused, but then smirked a little as he said, "I think a window of opportunity is open for us, boys!" this was their chance to escape…as long as the Kraken ate her.

As soon as she was pulled on to the railing, she latched on to it. The Beast began to pull harder and harder, until it could pull no more, and she was shot into the air, and back down towards Davy Jones. The two were sent crashing into a small dwarf fellow who was part lobster, right into the cargo bin. The pirates looked at the hole, and wondered if both their leaders were alright, but heard their captain speak to the dwarf of the crew, "Pedron. Be a good fellow and fix the plank…", and then his voice was heard in anger now as he shouted, "…SO I CAN MAKE YOU WALK IT!" the fellow shot out as he yelled in frightened French as he ran away. And then the two leaders of the group, came out, both looking like they haven't slept in days and growling in annoyance that their scheme had failed….and that they were now humiliated more than ever.

Back with the heroes, Ariel was swimming around, looking for Eric. She didn't see what had happened to him, but then she spotted him, and it was not looking good. He was unconscious on the rocky ground; she swam over to him and rested his head on her lap. She saw that there was a slight bruise on his head, and gently stroked on it. She then whispered to him as she sadly smiled at him, "You know…what you did out there was stupid, fool-hearty, and completely reckless." But then she smiled at him and her voice cracked a little, "…but also very…brave."

But then she felt a shadow loom over her as she saw her father. She was deeply afraid on what he would do, so she did the only thing she knew of what to do. She defended Eric by wrapping her arms around him and looked to her father defiantly. And then she stated what was in her heart, "Daddy, please don't! I know you think Eric's just a heartless fish-eater, but he's nothing like what you think they are. He's kind, caring, funny, and…."

But before she could finish, Triton sighed as he said, with no anger in his voice, "You should probably get him home before he wakes up. I'll deal with the Dutchman for you." Ariel was a little surprised by that, but then smiled as she thanked him, and helped Eric up. And then she swam Eric towards where the East/West Current would be. And then the three critters followed suit, a little confused by the King's kindness, but then the King spoke up, "Dax, was it?" the little otter stopped in his tracks, as he turned around and smiled sheepishly as King Triton said, "There are some questions I was hoping to ask you. So if you would mind staying a while."

Dax swallowed hard as he replied, "Oh, um…okay, your majesty." He then turned towards Sebastian and Flounder as he handed them Ariel's clothes bag and stated, "Here, and make sure when they get to land, tell the princess all about Eric's little bracelet trinket." The two nodded at that, as Flounder took the bag under his fin and swam away.

Sebastian looked at the otter, and lightly said, "Good luck, mon.", and swam away after Flounder, leaving the otter to a friendly interrogation with Triton as they swam back…and stopped in surprise as they saw the Flying Dutchman was nowhere to be found.

Next Chapter: Land or Sea; A Perfect Beginning