Disclaimer: Not mine, yay!
Chapter 29- The Ocean of Atlantica
Iji pointed excitedly at a blue blob in the distance. "Guys! Look over there! I think I see a world!"
Donald tapped the ship's navigator and a zoom in popped up. "Atlantica… A world completely covered by water."
"But I don't know how to swim!" Iji glanced over the magician's shoulder to the scale hologram. "In fact, I don't think I've ever even seen so much water before!"
Sora joined her at observing it. "Donald, if the whole world's made up of an ocean, then how are we supposed to breathe exactly?"
"Gwarsh, that would be hard to do." remarked Goofy absently.
Donald brandished his staff. "No problems! I'll use my magic to transform us, just like last time, but I'll make sure we can breathe too."
Goofy, Iji and Sora followed Donald to the air lock. The white duck whipped his staff around and a flash of magic blinded them.
"Iji, you can open your eyes you know." Sora poked the girl.
Iji opened her eyes and blinked several times. The cool sensation of water swirled around her body. "Sora?" Iji asked.
"Donald's magic worked!" Sora grinned at her.
Iji looked around her. Everyone had changed. Sora's legs had changed into a blue dolphin's tail. Behind her, Donald had changed into a half-octopus and Goofy into a strange looking turtle. Iji was afraid to look down at herself, but did so out of curiosity. Her legs were gone; turned into a white and brown striped tail with large billowing fins on the end. Her shirt had transformed into one made out of tiny mother-of-pearl discs that covered her chest. Small shells hung down on pieces of string from the edge. A strange feeling made Iji twist her head around to glance at her wings. She gasped.
"What are these?! Where are my wings?!" she cried out in panic. Her wings had been replaced by a pair of fan-like fins that slowly waved in the current.
"It's okay! It's okay!" Sora calmed her down. "You're part Lionfish, they have those."
"You look mighty pretty, Iji." Goofy remarked, trying to swim.
"Yeah," agreed Sora.
Iji blushed. Suddenly Iji looked up. Something was heading their way.
"Come on, Sebastian!" yelled a voice.
"Ariel, wait! Slow down! Don't leave me behind!" yelled another voice.
Around a corner, a mermaid with fiery red hair emerged. Trailing her was a crab the same colour as her hair, and a small yellow and blue fish. The mermaid wasn't watching where she was going. Her head turned around just in time as she crashed into Sora.
"Watch out, Ariel!" called the crab.
The mermaid gave a frightened gasp and jumped back into an attack position.
"Sora, are you okay?" Iji clumsily made her way over to Sora and helped him up.
Sora rubbed the bump on his head gingerly. "Yeah, I think so."
The mermaid watched them and dropped her stance. "Oh, relax, Sebastian. They don't look like one of them. Right, Flounder?" She looked over at the fish.
Flounder peeped out from Ariel's hair. He studied them carefully. "I don't know. There's something weird about them."
Sora and Iji exchanged nervous glances. Sora very slowly sunk towards the bottom of the ocean. Iji pulled him up, but sent herself down in the process. Goofy and Donald floated past aimlessly, being blown about in the currents.
Ariel raised an eyebrow at them all. She flicked her tail gracefully and swam around them, studying them. "They do seem… a little different." She swam around in circles. "Where are you from?" she asked.
The four stayed silent, scared of giving up any information. Iji nudged Sora in the ribs.
"Uh, we're from kind of far away. And we're not really used to these waters. Er, hahaha…" Sora laughed tensely.
Ariel smiled and giggled. "Oh, I see. Well, in that case… Sebastian can show you how we swim around here."
The crab frowned. "Ariel, King Triton will not like this!"
Ariel pouted at Sebastian, begging him to give in. The crab sighed and shrugged. "Alright, I'll teach them." Sebastian instructed the four in swimming, getting the four used to swimming by getting them to chase Flounder.
"I got you!" said Sora proudly as he caught the fish in his hands.
Ariel clapped. "Wow, you're all very fast learners!"
Flounder swiftly slipped out of Sora's hands and blew a raspberry, daring for them to come and catch him again. The yellow fish turned to start swimming. His mouth hung open in fear as he spotted something heading towards them all. "Ariel! It's them! We have to get away from here!"
A school of green Divers were streamlining their way forward. Quickly, Ariel snatched up Flounder and Sebastian and made a run for it. She looked back at her new friends. "Aren't you coming?!" she yelled.
Iji smiled at Ariel. "You get out of here! We'll take care of them!" The mermaid obeyed and swam out of sight. Iji looked at Sora. "About time we got to this again together, huh?"
Sora grinned back. "Yeah, I've missed it."
The two summoned their weapons and tackled the Heartless head-on.
"Come on, we've gotta help too!" Donald pushed Goofy into the fray and started firing random spells at the divers.
Iji delivered a final blow with her Star Cutters, finishing off the last Heartless. "That was a pretty small group." Iji remarked.
Sora nodded in agreement. "Strange that there wasn't a bigger group…"
"Wow! You guys are really strong!" exclaimed Ariel, coming back into view. "You saved me from those creatures!" Suddenly the red haired mermaid gasped and pointed behind Sora and Iji. Another group of Heartless were retreating away down the canyons. "We have to go after them! They might be heading to the palace!"
"Ahyuck, let's go then!" agreed Goofy.
*****
"Thirty-six!" yelled Iji as she stabbed a jellyfish Heartless. They were still in the tunnels leading towards the palace.
"How the hell did you get that many, Iji?! I only have twenty-two!" demanded Sora.
Iji winked playfully at the Keyblade Master. "I told ya I'm getting better."
Ariel giggled. "She's faster than you, Sora! We girls are quicker than you guys! Now watch this! Thunder!" Ariel sent down a rain of lightning bolts, defeating a whole horde of jellyfish that had just burst out of a larger one. "Now I have thirty-eight!"
"Hey, magic's not fair! I don't know any!" complained Iji, upping her pace and slashing down a line of Heartless. "Forty-three!"
Donald and Goofy exchanged worried looks.
"I can't see how they can be taking this so lightly." muttered Donald grumpily, secretly taking note when he defeated his twentieth Heartless.
The group emerged out of the tunnels into an area with carefully carved stone pillars.
"We're almost to the palace." Ariel informed them.
Slowly they made their way forward, fighting their way through schools of jellyfish and divers.
"I'm getting really tired…" panted Sora.
"Me too," Iji admitted meekly.
"There's just so many of them!" exclaimed Ariel. "Quick, let's make a run for it to the palace!" She kicked her tail and sped to the palace with the others trailing behind. A throng of divers chased after them, their spears ready for the attack. Ariel led her friends into a hallway made out of coral pillars, the Heartless were catching up behind them. Inches from their fins, a powerful bolt of lightning crashed into the Heartless, defeating them instantly. Ariel looked up and happiness spread over her face. "Daddy!"
A merman with a blue tail like Ariel's and a majestic grey beard held a golden trident in his large hands. Upon his head was a golden crown. "That was too close! As long as I have my trident, I will not tolerate these creatures inside this palace!" He stared down at Ariel, a look of anger and worry mingled on his face. "Oh, Ariel! When will you listen? It's dangerous out there!" Ariel pouted. The merman ignored them and shifted his glance to Sora. "Strange creatures lurk outside…"
Sora frowned slightly as his remark.
"Behold!" pronounced Sebastian, emerging next to the merman. "You swim before the ruler of the seas: His Majesty, King Triton!"
King Triton continued to glare down at Sora. "And who are they?"
Ariel smiled and waved an arm out at her friends. "They helped us fight off those creatures, Daddy."
Ariel's father raised an eyebrow in thought. "They don't look familiar…"
"Um," Sora came forward. "We're from an ocean very far away."
Goofy floated past. "Yup! We're here to find the Keyhole!"
King Triton's face twitched. "The what?!"
"What's that?" asked Ariel, her curiosity suddenly taking hold.
Goofy laughed. "Ahyuck, well, it's a-"
"There's no such thing!" boomed King Triton angrily. He clutched onto his trident harder. "Certainly not here!" Ariel went to speak, but he silenced her. "Ariel, not another word! You are not to leave the palace. Is that clear?"
Ariel pouted crossly and swam off angrily.
"Ariel, wait!" called Iji and went after her, Sora, Donald and Goofy not too far behind.
King Triton sank into his throne after they left. He shook his head sadly. "Perhaps I'm being too strict… I'm just concerned for her safety."
"Of course, You Majesty." reassured Sebastian. "But I must admit; now I'm quite curious about this Keyhole." He stared down the hallway wistfully.
The king coughed. "That need not concern you, Sebastian." He needed to change the subject, quickly. "Have you anything to report?"
Sebastian's attention snapped back. "Ah, er, yes. Just as you suspected, Your Majesty, they seem to be coming from Ursula's grotto."
King Triton smashed a fist down on the armrest. "I knew it! That sea witch is up to no good again! I see exile from the palace has taught her nothing."
The crab nodded. "Yes, she poses serious danger."
"And I told you to keep Ariel away from such danger, did I not?" Triton eyed Sebastian.
Sebastian backed up fearfully. "Your Majesty, I, uh…"