Chapter 7 - Pride, Glory, & Honor
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The sun shone greatly on the shores of the kingdom. Ariel was taking a morning stroll on the shores, Singing to herself, and enjoying the few days of peace. She missed her husband and daughter, but knew they needed to be together for that family connection that most daughters and fathers had that were strained.
However, Ariel's morning stroll was interrupted by the sounds of dolphins crying out for help down the way. And when Ariel rushed over to see what the matter was, the sight shocked her greatly.
"Melody!" She cried out, rushing to her daughter, who had not only a rough night, but a long, tiring trip back home with the help of the dolphins, and had been carried to shore, exhausted from rushing home so fast.
Some scouts on patrol found their queen with Melody, and rushed over to help.
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When Melody's eyes reopened, her mother hugged her tight.
"Melody, I'm so glad to see you're OK." Ariel's face showed dried tears.
"Mom, it's dad...he needs help." Melody spoke weakly.
"What happened? What happened to him?" Ariel was almost scared beyond words.
"Pirates...they attacked us."
"Oh no! Pirates!"
Ariel immediately summoned for the Navy generals, as soon as she could. Within minutes, Navy General Kirk was there, in uniform, ready to sail if necessary.
"Queen Ariel, General Kirk, Reporting for duty!" He spoke proudly.
"Gather as many men as you can, Eric's been captured! He's been captured by Pirates!"
"Pirates! I'll assemble as many men as I can! For King Eric!" General Kirk rushed from the room.
As he left, Melody sat up amidst her weakness.
"No Melody, you must stay in bed, you're weak!" Ariel begged her daughter
"I'm not that bad." Melody tried to argue.
Carlotta the maid was actually on Melody's side.
"Queen Ariel, she's only suffering from minor fatigue. Give her an hour, she'll be fine."
Carlotta knew exactly what she was talking about.
"Ok then...But until then, Melody, please stay in bed." Ariel rushed off, not before informing General Kirk to await more orders, and then to Atlantica.
"You'd think at 18, she'd let me care for myself." Said Melody
Carlotta understood the young woman's thinking, but knew her mother much better.
"It's a mother's duty, no matter how old her children get. now sleep, you'll feel fine soon."
Melody laid back and continued to rest.
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Within minutes, Ariel was underwater, swimming for her hometown, Atlantica. Going so fast, she didn't bother to try and avoid things, and eventually crashed into her nephew Tiger. The 2 collided and fell back in pain.
"Owwwww, my head." Tiger said
Ariel got up and noticed who she had collided with.
"Oh, Tiger! Listen! Come with me, we need to see Triton, quick!" Ariel bolted around Tiger, who was still smarting from the collision.
"Ok, Auntie Ariel...geez, you sure hurt when you hit." Tiger followed his aunt, and eventually caught up to her.
"What's happened?" Tiger asked
"Melody washed up on the shore...pirates took over Eric's ship." Ariel replied
"Pirates! Triton's been looking for a certain pirate, he said something about this Cervantes guy..."
Ariel and Tiger rushed into the main hall, and Triton was right there, looking bored. But the sight of his youngest daughter cheered him right up.
"Ariel, this is an unexpected suprise!" Triton didn't know why Ariel had arrived.
"Daddy, we need help! This pirate, he attacked the ship Eric was on, Melody's back home, she washed up on the shore..."
"Pirates! Tiger, get Captain strong in here immediately, this just might be the pirate we're looking for!"
"Right away, Grandpa!" Tiger bolted from the room to get his captain.
"So what else do you know about this pirate?" Triton asked
"Nothing else. Melody is still in bed. She must have escaped with that gift you gave her."
Triton cracked a small smile, glad that he was still a deciding factor in how things turned out.
"I knew it would come in handy one day."
Tiger and Captain Strong entered the room.
"Captain Strong, Reporting for duty, SIR!"
"Private Tiger, Reporting for duty, SIR!" Tiger was involuntarily stuck back to his duty as a mersoldier.
"Captain Strong, please sit, we have a situation, Private Tiger, I need you to put out a D-10 situation, all mersoldiers here on the double!"
"Yes, sir!" Tiger left the room. While he was talking with his grandfather, the moment he became a soldier, his duties came to be and his ease was gone.
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An hour passed, Tiger and his fellow soldiers were awaiting the plans that were to be given. The Navy were also awaiting above, ready to set sail whenever necessary. But down in Atlantica, King Triton and Captain Strong were discussing a theory.
"If it is Cervantes, He must be on the trail of the Devil's stones." Said Triton
"And the reason he attacked Eric's ship, was because it had the Danish flag. Only in Denmark does anyone know of Devil's Island." Replied Captain Strong
"But no man from Denmark has ever told him it's location...they fear for their nightmares and their children's nightmares, and the children who come after."
"And then he kills them when they refuse to speak." Captain strong spoke of Eric's possible fate.
Just outside the palace, Melody swam down to see what was occuring.
"Mom, what's happening?" Melody saw her mom.
"They're discussing a plan. Are you feeling any better?" Asked Ariel
"I'm fine." Melody replied.
Then Lynn and Tiger swam up to their cousin.
"I hear you had a rough night." Said Lynn
"I'm fine now." Melody quickly assured her cousins and mother.
Then a horn sounded. The plan was decided. King Triton stepped out along with Captain Strong, and the mersoldiers got into line, while Ariel, Lynn, and Melody all stood to the side.
"Ok, soldiers! Here's the plan! We believe that the pirate who attacked King Eric, is indeed, Cervantes De Santa!" Captain strong informed his men.
The mersoldiers murmured amongst themselves.
"Therefore, Our only hope, is to wait at Devil's island, and hope King Eric has told the pirate of the location, and ambush the pirate before he can get his hands on the devil's stones." Triton added.
"Soldiers! Grab your spears! Prepare! For tonight, We feed Cervantes to the deep!"
The soldier's cheers rang throughout Atlantica. Now they just needed to get into position, and wait.
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