Chapter 6

Under the water it was empty. Matthew looked over the expanse with sad eyes, missing how the scales of a school of fish would shine when the sun shone through. The merman sighed and flipped backwards, absentmindedly doing summersaults. Oh how he wished he could hear that obnoxious, loud, identical (and stupid, oh so stupid) voice but no, his brother had gotten into another mess. A mess that involved a human pirate of all things. Curse Alfred for making him swear off singing so Matthew couldn't just get them to throw his brother off. He wouldn't be hearing that voice again. Knowing Al, he was probably being an idiot and destroying that small chance of the captain letting him go.

The somersault lost momentum and Matthew was left facing the surface as it crinkled, a molten sky. A dark phantom glided across the ceiling. The ship. "Damn it, Al," he sighed, slowly spinning again. He yelped when he found himself face to face with an incredibly different blonde merman.

"Francis!"

"Oh Mathieu, it is not Alfred you should be worrying about," the French siren cooed, twirling one of Matthew's curls.

Matthew pulled back, blushing, "I know that. I just wish Al would get over that pirate."

"No luck with the 'big man'?" Francis said as he swam around Matthew.

Matthew shook his head, "No, he's just as stubborn."

Francis sighed, "Alfred is too spoiled. I pity any object of his affection. Hopefully that cute little captain will not get killed because of him…"

Matthew silently agreed.

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Arthur woke to the low sound of thunder. He sat up, instantly awake.

"Good morning, sunshine," he turned to see the merman, arms crossed behind his head again, smiling devilishly at him, "Ready for another beautiful day?"

Scowling, Arthur threw off his covers and pulled on his clothes, ignoring the merman's comments and whistles. The moment he as he was clothed he sprinted out the door only to be confronted with a strong gust of wind and the sight of rolling storm clouds. The merman was right. Arthur ran to the helmsman, "When did this happen?"

"It was as clear as day captain until just a few moments ago," the man yelled over the gust trying to tear him away from the wheel. The grizzled pirate eyed the clouds anxiously, "I've never seen anything like it." Arthur looked up the storm and couldn't help but to agree. These clouds seemed more ominous, uglier, than normal clouds. There could only be one reason why.

Arthur stormed into his cabin. The door slammed into the wall, "You," he said, pointing to the siren.

Alfred looked up from his lounging position in the tank and wiggled his eyebrows, "Yes?"

"What is this?"

"You mean this storm?" he looked around Arthur to the darkening clouds, "Really Artie, Mattie warned you about it and everything. But did you let me go? Nooo…."

"You still haven't answered my question!" Arthur yelled, losing patience.

Alfred shrugged and was suddenly very interested in his tail, "Oh you know, just a little something my Pops probably cooked up."

"What?"

"My Pops. The Ruler of the Seas and all. He tends to get a little pissed when people kidnap his offspring. If you know what I mean." Alfred winked.

"Wha-Why didn't you tell me this?" Arthur shouted incredulously.

Alfred held up a finger, "First off, you did kinda kidnap me and threaten to sell me. Second, do you really think you would have stopped if I told you?"

He had a point but damn him if Arthur's ship was going to sink because of some cocky merman. He swiftly turned and walked back outside, shouting orders away. Alfred called, "Be careful!" behind him before the door closed and cut him off from the outside.

The rain was starting to pound on the ship and the waves were beginning to get larger. Arthur grit his teeth. So he was going to battle the Ruler of the Seas, eh? But he was the great Captain Arthur Kirkland, he'd seen the roughest seas on this side of the world. This storm would only serve to better him. If he survived his name would be seen throughout the world. A smile started to grow on his face, bring it on.

It was the greatest storm the ship had ever faced. The sailors would remember just how great the waves grew and how terrifying the lightning boomed beside them and how angry the sea scowled at them in all directions. The thing they would remember the most, however, was the twisted grin their captain wore as he danced with the raging sea and the terrifying laugh that could be heard over the din. The winds were torrential and thunder exploded but Arthur held onto the ropes and lashed out against them, screaming out again and again for more.

All agreed that that day was Captain Arthur Kirkland's best day.

Hours passed when suddenly it all stopped. The winds and rain died down and the waves ceased to exist and all that remained were the black clouds above them and an eerie silence. The men broke into cheers and song. The pirate's weary muscles were filled with energy and they twirled and twisted in a rudimentary dance.

Like the waters around the ship Captain Arthur remained quiet and kept his eyes on the sea. This cannot be it, he thought grimly, she has more to give.

It did not take long for him to see what else the sea had to offer. The horizon slowly curved and the ship slowly sank. Arthur took a step back, almost panicky as he saw it. Bullocks that's going to huge. He turned to the crew hurriedly barking commands. The crew, sensing something was wrong, turned to see what their captain was saying.

Mouths hung open. A few shouts and prayers to God were raised. With heavy hearts they watched as the very sea sloping up to meet them. The water moved slowly like lava, cresting from a mile away and grew and grew and grew. The men began to scramble.

"TSUNAMI!" a crewmember from the eastern countries cried out in horror.

It can't get this big, it's not possible, Arthur repeated in his mind. It was the size of the ship. Now two times bigger. By the time it neared the wave was almost three times the size of the ship, by far the biggest wave Arthur had ever seen. The anger of the Ruler of the Seas.

The ship tipped, pulled by the powerful current into the watery incline. Arthur gripped onto the side of the ship. Years of experience told him what was going to happen, the entire ship was either going to flip or get crushed under the water. It was hopeless. The Black Britannia was going to sink and as a captain he was to die with her. Arthur gulped, all of those years that passed by that he hadn't bothered to learn to swim seemed to mock him. He had felt this panic before, when he was shot and his mind kept trying to cling to the possibility of survival and told him it wasn't fair, he was too young, he still needed to live, he still had a life ahead of him. But logic told him that it was too late already, he was going to die over a damn merman.

The awesome power of the tsunami carried the vessel into the air and men started to fall from the ship along with barrels and anything that wasn't already tied on. Up and up and up the ship traveled until it was almost upside down on the top of the underside of the wave. The men who still held on, Arthur among them, stomach's started to tickle as the ship gave up its grip on the water and started to fall. Meanwhile the wave curled, collapsing in on itself with the ship still inside. All the men watched as the water seemed to come at them at all sides.

An annoying laugh could be heard over the screams of men and the crash of water…

Arthur didn't remember the impact, just water, crushing water. And how his grip on the wood that he was determined to keep was torn away easily by the torrential currents. And he was sent down into the depths, spinning and hitting objects, soft flesh and hard wood, along the way. His breath was snatched away as quickly as he had tried to hold it and his lungs screamed at him. No distinguishing thoughts could pass through his mind just a desperate cry for air, air, air!

All went dark…

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Arthur woke to water being forced out of his lungs. He coughed and choked, his mind jumbled and blurred. There were words but he couldn't understand. Something was pushed into his mouth and he was forced to swallow. Darkness began to take him again. In the back of his mind came a random thought, the water is cold.

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He woke abruptly when water attacked him again. He flailed trying to push away whatever was bringing him back down, trying to reach for air. But the hold on him was as strong as steel and he could do nothing when his lungs felt like they were shriveling and dying. Thoughts faded again with a painful unconsciousness.

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Dreams surfaced in his mind. Old images of a small village and three big brothers. The sea. He felt an odd fear toward the waters lapping at his feet. But he plunged toward it, ignoring the foreboding. He laughed; a light sound, childish, as he walked into the water. A woman's voice called out, a warning. Still he continued until the water lapped his shoulders. The shouts were louder now. Arthur turned, taking a step back. The world tipped when his foot reached for ground that wasn't there and he fell into the water. Panic. He breathed in but there was no air. Vile salt-water filled his lungs. No, no no. There was nothing but water…

Strong hands grabbed him, pulling him until his head broke the surface-

Arthur's eyes cracked open and he took an unsteady breath in. Above him he could see a stone ceiling with stalactites. A cave? He tried to sit up but he found his muscles sore and unresponsive and was he covered in…blankets?

Sleep was slowly losing its grip on Arthur's mind, now being replaced with the drowsy feeling that came with a fever. He was hot, yet cold, shaking with his abnormal temperature. A cold? Wait, wasn't he drowning? The ship, the tsunami, the annoying merman… Pushing past the weight of his sickness Arthur raised his head and sat up on his elbows.

His first thought was that he had died. All around him were piles and piles of gold, chests spewing jewels and ancient coins. Along the walls were mastheads of sunken ships, women, some with wings, facing forward to some destination. And there were other stranger treasures as well: massive globes, mirrors, clothes, a silver and gold chess set, a rough sketch of the night sky.

The more he saw, however, the more he realized that this was not heaven but a large cave. Torches hung from the walls and gave light to the dark cavern and to his right there was a blue pool that he presumed led outside and to his left, over the treasure, there was a dark tunnel.

When Arthur's eyes finally traveled down to his body he saw that he was lying down in and wrapped in blankets. As he looked closer he saw that they were blankets made for royalty, woven with gold and made with an exquisite design, and were very soft and warm. What the-?

That's when he heard it-a ringing whistle that echoed off the walls. Arthur turned his head to the tunnel, so tired he could only the man's feet as he walked out. "So you're up? Lay back down Artie, you're still sick!"

Arthur froze, he knew that voice. It couldn't be-"Come on, you heard me. Do I have to sing you to sleep?"

Gulp. Arthur's eyes blinked then reluctantly traveled from the feet, up the man's-embarrassingly naked-body, past the familiar leather necklace, up to see that smiling, blue-eyed face.

Alfred laughed, "Hey Artie!"

AN: Ughhh, I hate typing in my edits; it makes me realize just how much I can improve on. Sorry if the sentence structures seem repetitive. Anyway, *Pirates of the Caribbean music* hoped you liked the chapter; it was at least fun to write.

Thanks again for all the reviews! Last chapter got so many story alerts which is awesome since that means at least there are more people out there reading this, hope I don't disappoint y'all (the story will get deeper over time I swear).

Btw, chapters 1-15 are posted in a certain place…if you're interested in crappy writing don't hesitate to ask where.