Exploring Her World
An: well it's another chapter. Oh yeah, I kinda messed up. The ring can be worn for twenty four hours not eight, thanks for catching that. I really do need a beta, if anyone is interested, please contact me. Well, that's all I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review they mean the world to me.
Who knew such a small piece of metal could weigh so heavy on a person? The cool silver was smooth to the touch. An intense blue gaze stared at the ring filled with so much possibility. You'd think that Jim Hawkins would have adorned the infamous ring long ago, what with him standing stark naked in the ocean, and the girl of his interest not far. But Jim knew the importance of this moment.
Taking a deep breath, he chanced a glance at Ariel. It was easy to see the hope in her eyes: the excitement, the anticipation. How could he deny her this experience? Besides, he was anxious as well. The thought of what it would feel like during the "change," was making his heart race. He supposed there was only one way to find out.
Gathering his courage, he slipped the band onto his left ring finger. How odd that he chose the finger that humans usually associated with marriage or engagement. Instantaneously, he felt a tiny pinch as the ring miraculously shrunk to fit snugly against his skin. No doubt the pinch he felt was the ring taking his DNA.
After a moment he realized he wasn't changing. So what now? How was he supposed to activate the ring? He looked back to Ariel, who now looked unsure and a bit concerned. Even now she was a sight, sitting in the shallow surf like that. Somehow, her tail caught the moonlight and sparkled, her translucent fins curling and uncurling lazily. Unconsciously, he wished he could become a merman if only to see if her beauty under the waves could possibly rival that which he was witnessing as of this moment.
Suddenly, he felt an unfamiliar tingling sensation begin in him. His heart rate began to accelerate. It was happening…he was changing. Curiously, he looked down to watch the development. It was slow and a bit terrifying.
It started on his thighs. The pigment of his skin started to lighten at an alarming rate. His prized tanned skin had paled in seconds spreading from his thighs downwards and then upwards although skipping that which made him purely male oddly enough. With a blush, he wondered why that was.
He didn't have too much time to think about it when apparently the second stage of his transformation commenced. An incredible wave of itchiness flowed everywhere the pigmentation had. Frantically, he bent over and began to scratch at his legs. The white skin seemed to shed on contact. Jim gasped when the snakelike skin floated off of him to reveal blue scales matching the color of his eyes. His entire legs and hips were covered in them, except for that one area. A fierce blush overcame him as a layer of those scales formed on his lower abdomen and multiplied until they connected with the ones at his thighs effectively hiding away that which made him male. He quickly realized how merpeople reproduced. In intimate activities, the scales must recede in that area and…
There was a tingling at his hips. Instead of scales, there was a small translucent bluish fin, (think little mermaid) that encircled his waist. He noted with a racing heart that his lower half was starting to resemble Ariel's more with each passing second. The only thing left now was…
Again it began in his thighs. There was an unexplainable pressure that pushed his legs together. Once together, the scales from each leg bonded together and interlocked. This happened all the way down his legs until even his ankles were no more. It was disconcerting to feel the muscles and bones shifting knowing that his two legs had become one appendage. This shifting caused him to lose his balance and he fell backwards flailing about wildly before he sank beneath the waves.
He couldn't see Ariel's alarm and how she dove in to rush to his side. Meanwhile, as he fell he could feel the tingling sensation in his feet and toes knowing that they were morphing into the fins that Ariel possessed as well.
Once he hit the water, instinctively he closed his eyes and held his breath. That is until he heard a gasp beside him. Hesitantly, he opened one eye…and was surprised. Normally, his eyes would burn with the salt water, but there was no pain. But jim had forgotten about that.
He was right…she was even more beautiful in her own element. Effortlessly, she hung suspended in the water before him, her hair floating about her in a fiery cloud. Wide blue eyes stared at him in wonder. Her lips parted in a small "o". She was breathtaking. Speaking of which, he had unconsciously let loose upon the sight of her.
"Jim…" Her tone clearly spoke of awe.
When he fell back like that she had panicked. Something must have gone wrong with his, "magic." She had to help him. Hurriedly, Ariel dove into the waves after him. What she found, however, stole her breath. He was perfect. Even with his closed eyes and cheeks puffed out like a puffer fish and all. He was, for lack of a better word…beautiful, and his magic had worked.
He had become a merman, and wow, what a merman he made. He was a specimen among her kind. He looked so peaceful with his eyes closed and his chestnut bangs floating weightlessly about him. His torso was already impressive as she witnessed before. But now her gaze was drawn downward. His tail. Her first thought was that the color of his tail was nearly identical to that of her father's, Jim's maybe being a little darker. She noted that his tail was muscular just like the rest of him. He was a sight perfect down to the long transparent blue tinted fins.
And then his eyes opened….They were the same color as his tail. He looked bemused and entranced at something as he looked at her and in that moment she wished for the life of her that she knew what it was. Maybe…maybe she should ask him she thought hazily.
"Jim."
Meanwhile, a little red crab had just arrived on the scene. Flounder had been trying to distract him from going after Ariel. No doubt mischief abounded where she was. And somehow he just knew that whoever this Jim was, it had his name written all over this. Finally, he outmaneuvered Flounder and swam forward until he was met with a most unexpected sight.
Sure enough, Ariel was there but…a merman? Who was that? Was that this Jim character? It had to be. Either way, the scene before him was quite alarming. The unknown merman was lying on the sand and Ariel was only a few feet away. The alarming issue was that they were staring at each other like they had been stranded on land for days and the respective other was the ocean. He had to stop this before this got out of hand.
"What is all dis den young lady!" Both teens jumped like they had hot coals suddenly placed beneath them.
"Sebastian!" Ariel exclaimed. Jim just stared in shock at the indignant little red creature. What was that thing?! Sebastian crossed his claws and tapped them impatiently glaring at Ariel then pointedly eyeing Jim. And to top off bad timing, it was then that Jim realized his transformation as a merman was complete. His eyes grew wide as saucers at first sight of his tail.
"Whoa…" At the look of suspicion on the composer's face, Ariel intervened.
"Oh Sebastian, this is Jim." Her emphasis was put on his name in an attempt to shake the new merman out of his self-discovery. Her voice had the desired effect. Jim's head snapped up and met the gaze of the crab.
"Yeah, the name's Jim. It's uh…nice to meet you." Immediately, his hand flew to his throat amazed that he wasn't drowning on the sea water. Sebastian eyed him like he had grown another head.
"Jim, huh." Apparently, it showed in his voice because instantly Jim dropped his hand and sat up feigning the identity of an experienced merman.
"Yeah, what's yours?" he inquired confidently. This seemed to calm the crab.
"This is Sebastian, and this is my best friend Flounder." Ariel piped in quickly. Jim looked up to see a bright yellow blue striped fish come fluttering up beside Ariel.
"Nice to meet you," Jim supplied with a simple head nod.
"Alright and now we're going, see you later Sebastian!" Ariel exclaimed quickly grabbing Jim's hand and swimming at break neck speed away from a stunned Sebastian. The advisor's look of astonishment morphed to one of annoyance and suspicion. Dat girl is up to some 'ting.
Meanwhile, outright laughter was passed all around.
"Did you see his face?" Ariel blurted between fits of giggles. Jim had a hard time controlling his own amusement.
"I know it was priceless." Flounder even bobbed about in agreement.
Now that they had stopped, Jim was quick to realize that she had taken him out to sea and he had yet to learn how to swim. This was all prompted by the fact that he was starting to sink.
"Oh! Sorry 'bout that," Ariel apologized grabbing onto his arms once more eliciting deep scarlet from both of the teens. Flounder had to stifle a snort. This was better than Sebastian's face. Well…not quite, but almost. To everyone's relief, Jim was a quick study and was flicking his own fins in no time.
Diving deeper, Jim was met with sights he had never witnessed. The ocean was peaceful and open and Jim felt like he was flying. And there were so many colors. Closer to the ocean floor, Jim could've sworn he had seen a sea anemone of every shade. Ariel and Flounder had laughed when upon touching one; they all shrank down into their rock shelters only to expand back out again a few moments later.
And sea creatures! He had seen countless fish, jellyfish, coral, and even a pod of blue whales. There really was so much to see, and Jim hoped that he could have more trips with her like this if just to see this unbelievable hidden world.
So far, they had encountered no merpeople but Jim was content just to be with Ariel. All of her patient explanations had a bright smile that seemed to be infectious because he couldn't keep the grin off of his own face.
"Wanna see something really neat?" How could he not be interested with her so enthused like that?
"Sure." His low confident voice sent shivers down her spine and she knew she had to look away or he would discover the deep blush on her cheeks. Still, Jim noted in surprise she was able to take his own larger hand in hers and speed off to their new location. A small smile graced his lips and he gripped her hand tighter. Pumping his strong tail, he was able to keep up with his feisty redhead.
His? There it was again. That possessive nature appeared once more. But this time it was like it was enhanced. Instincts, his mind immediately supplied. This form, it had some instincts and those instincts told him that Ariel was his or that he should make her his. Jim didn't want to contemplate what that meant. Thankfully, Ariel's tug on his hand told him that they had arrived at their destination. There would be time for those difficult thoughts later.
Now his heart began to race at the sight presented before him. A graveyard: a human ship graveyard. Jim shivered at the memory of his own ship sinking. And then perhaps, maybe his ship was around here. But suddenly, Jim didn't feel like finding his ship. That meant it would get repaired and that he would have to leave, leave this world and…and Ariel. Unconsciously, his hand gave hers a squeeze. He wasn't going anywhere… at least…not yet.
"You guys, wait for me!" Flounder's call could be heard in the distance.
"Flounder! Hurry Up!" Ariel beckoned turning her gaze back to the feat before her.
"Hey, you know I can't swim that fast!" (Yeah it's the shipwreck scene Jimxariel style) Flounder retorted defensively. Jim gave a small smile of encouragement then followed Ariel's gaze.
"There it is." Jim smirked. A sunken ship, wicked in appearance and totally looking like it reeked of adventure.
"Looks cool, we should check it out." Ariel grinned in response loving Jim's rivaling zeal for all things daring. Flounder flinched.
"Yeah guys, it's great. Now can we get out of here?" Flounder made to dash for it but Ariel grabbed him by the fins with a sigh.
"You're not getting cold fins now are you?" Ariel released him but she and Jim were already swimming for the ship. Flounder went stiff for a moment before speeding off after them.
"What? No! You know I love danger. It's…it's just I think I'm coming down with something." Flounder looked up to see Jim and Ariel examining a port hole.
"Yeah, see I think I have this cough…yeah!" he supplied far too enthusiastically with adding a few forced hacks on the end for emphasis. Jim and Ariel both gave a look of disbelief and then Ariel's changed to one of mischief.
"Well, I don't know about you but we're both going inside. If you want, you can stay out here and keep a look out for sharks." Her gaze then flicked to Jim who mock bowed.
"Ladies First." With a blush, Ariel swam in while Jim with some flexibility squeezed in behind her. Flounder nodded in earnest.
"Yeah…yeah that's right, you two go and…and I'll stay her and watch for sh…sharks!" Like a bullet, Flounder shot toward the porthole trying his best to get into the ship. Unfortunately, his pudgy little body got stuck.
"Ariel! Jim! I can't…I mean…you guys help!" The two teens let out a soft chuckle and turned back to assist the panicking fish.
"Oh Flounder." Flounder's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Do you guys really think there are sharks around here?" With a tug, the fish popped through the hole like a cork. However, the force was a little great and it knocked Ariel back into the strong awaiting arms of Jim Hawkins. Catching her lightly, Ariel turned in his arms, shyly looked up and locked gazes with him.
"You alright there?" Jim asked softly. Ariel stammered.
"Y…yeah." Ariel blushed when Jim was a bit reluctant to let her go. She had to regain composure somehow.
"Flounder, don't be such a guppy."
"I'm not a guppy!" Little did they know as they descended down into a lower level of the ship that a large dark shadow was moving alongside the ship. Jim and Ariel swam up ahead while Flounder dropped back.
"Yeah, I love this stuff: excitement, danger, danger lurking around every corn…"It was then that the little fish came face to face with a human skull.
"AAAAHHHH!" Slamming his eyes shut, Flounder torpedoed blindly in their direction.
"Ariel!" What he didn't expect was to slam straight into Jim's back. The force caused Jim to topple over and land on top of Ariel pinning her with his bodyweight on hers, their faces mere centimeters away from each other.
They were lost in a moment. Both surprised, and both liking the closeness a little too much. His instincts screamed at him to act on that physical contact and so Jim found himself leaning down to close the gap between his and her lips. Mentally, he was delighted to see the mermaid's eyelids lower in response and arching into his touch. A few more centimeters and…
"Ahem!" Apparently Flounder had gotten over his fears, Jim thought a little perturbed as Ariel scurried out from beneath him.
"Aw Flounder, are you okay?"
"Yeah sure, I'm okay." With that done, their exploration continued. A large hole in the ceiling allowed them to swim up into the captain's quarters.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" Ariel's eyes widened and Jim looked about the room trying to find what was so spectacular. Ariel shot forward and…picked up a fork. Jim slapped his forehead and let out a light chuckle. A fork…
"Have you ever seen anything more wonderful in your entire life!" Ariel exclaimed picking up the fork. Apparently, Flounder was just as excited.
"Wow, cool!" Jim let it go. Of course it would be fascinating for someone who had never seen a kitchen utensil before. Right now a stray rapier had caught his attention. Now this was more like it! He slashed it about while the two best friends conversed over the fork.
"But uh…what is it?" Ariel's smile couldn't be dampened.
'I don't know, Jim, what do you think it is?" At that moment a dark shadow passed over the room.
"Wha what was that?" Jim and Ariel disregarded the paranoid fish.
"Well it's uh…" Jim was going to explain when through the glass of the windows a huge great white shark could be seen outside. Jim's eyes widened as the shark's jaws opened.
"Shark!" Both Jim and Flounder yelled. The shark crushed through the glass and Flounder swam right at them. Jim grabbed hold of Ariel's hand and swam down and out of the opening, the rapier still in his other hand, Flounder and the shark dead on their fins. They thought they were home free until the huge shark burst down through the ceiling in front of them. Darting forward, Jim quickly lodged the rapier vertically in the shark's mouth. No good! The shark snapped the sword like a twig. Jerking, they swam to the other side of the ship, the shark chomping on wood like a mower over a lawn.
There it was a hole in the ceiling and out into open waters. Frantically, they swam about the ship graveyard the shark closing in on them, when Jim got an idea looking at an anchor. It was circular and a little larger than him in diameter. Grabbing Ariel's hand, he led her and Flounder towards it. This idea had to work or maybe they would really be fish food.
The shark was closing in fast. They only had seconds. Just a few more feet…Jim strained every muscle he had. At the last moment, he grabbed Ariel who had Flounder pulling her taut against the length of his body and swam through the hoop. The poor shark didn't realize what had happened as it felt its head get lodged and stuck in the hoop. Panting, the trio looked at the shark now rendered captive.
"You big bully." Flounder taunted sticking out his tongue. One snap of its jaws sent Flounder scampering back to the safety of a laughing Jim and Ariel who were heading towards the surface.
"Flounder, you really are a guppy."
A few minutes later found Ariel and Jim sitting on the rock overlooking Eric's castle. Neither was looking at the castle though. Both were gazing down at the waves a few feet away.
"That was…crazy." Though Jim sounded like he didn't mind.
"By the way, thank you for saving my life." Ariel whispered placing her hand over top of his.
"Don't mention it," Jim replied entwining his fingers with hers. Jim blushed but continued on.
"Can I…see you again?" Jim asked timidly. Jim's answer came in the unexpected form of her resting her head on his shoulder.
"Tomorrow night?"
"Tomorrow night then." In that moment both wished that time would stop if only to preserve the perfect moment longer.
Please review! I will update faster if you do! Later days!