Meanwhile, Mermando was enjoying the carriage ride. He first was amazed by the carriage itself, especially the horse, and leaned over the back to watch his hooves move. Mabel was startled, but recovered once she saw that he wouldn't be falling off anytime soon. Mermando then went back into his seat to see the kingdom.
Once they reached the marketplace Mermando was stunned by all the land animals and the food. He then saw a Punch and Judy show and picked up the Punch puppet, causing the puppeteer to search for it. Mermando gave him a sheepish smile when the puppeteer finally saw where Punch went and gave Punch back to him.
Mermando then went back to Mabel and they walked around...until Mermando saw some people dancing. He excitedly pulled Mabel over, and Mabel taught him how to dance. She was a bit amazed that he never danced before, but enjoyed teaching him. Especially since she loved dancing.
Soos was watching them dance when Stan showed up.
"Hey Soos, any kissing yet?" Stan asked.
"No, not yet." Soos shook his head.
"Well they'd better get cracking."
Mabel later decided to show Mermando the grounds outside the town, and then got the idea to let Mermando take the reins for a while. Mermando excitedly took over...and Mabel almost regretted letting him. This was because Mermando flicked the reins and made the horse go faster, which caused the ride to become a bit scary on the bumpy ground. Mabel was a bit scared at first, but then started to enjoy herself. She started to laugh and Mermando silently laughed as well, especially after the horses and carriage leapt over a ravine. She then leaned against Mermando's shoulder, enjoying the rest of the ride. Mermando's heart beat faster.
When they got back, Dipper took Mabel aside.
"I was thinking: how would you like to take him on a boat ride?" He suggested. "He might enjoy the sights of the lagoon."
"That's a great idea...would you like to take his friend on one too?" Mabel smiled.
"Sure."
At the same time, Wendy told Mermando and Soos the plan through a note she wrote earlier. Mermando and Soos agreed, especially since Mermando had been wanting to play his guitar for Mabel. He would've during the tour but he left it in the castle. He wanted to get some souvenirs - he did - and so needed room for them in the carriage.
That night, Mermando and Mabel took one boat while Dipper and Wendy took another. Dipper and Wendy went down a different route, but stayed nearby so that they could see Mermando and Mabel kiss. Soos and Stan were with them too, but on Dipper and Wendy's boat. Dipper liked both Soos and Stan, and they in turn liked him.
Unfortunately, Stan didn't know about the plan and decided to take matters into his own wings...or voice. Yup, he tried to serenade Mermando and Mabel, causing Soos, Dipper, and Wendy to facepalm.
"Didn't you tell him about the plan?" Dipper whispered to Soos.
"I thought you or Wendy did." Soos retorted. "Relax, I'll get rid of him."
He leapt off the boat and swam to where Stan was. Around the same time Mabel spotted Stan
"Whoa, someone needs to put that bird out of his misery." Mabel joked awkwardly, trying to make Mermando feel better since he looked uncomfortable.
However he wasn't uncomfortable, he was embarrassed. And Mabel's joke didn't help that much either.
Then Soos clamped a claw over Stan's beak.
"Pipe down ya amateur!" Soos whispered harshly. "Geez, you want something done right you got to do it yourself..."
He then swam closer to Mermando and Mabel - leaving Stan to grumble to himself - and gave Mermando the signal: a thumbs up. Mermando smiled and pulled out his guitar from behind his back.
"Sure, I'd love to hear you play." Mabel smiled.
Mermando started to play the tune he and Soos agreed on. Soos then went to the animals - ducks, turtles, etc - and asked them to join in. The ducks used the turtles as drums and Soos started to sing, using a cattail for a microphone:
There you see him
Sitting there across the way
He don't got a lot to say
But there's something about him
And you don't know why
But you're dying to try
You wanna kiss the boy
DUCKS, TURTLES, FLAMINGOS AND SOOS:
Yes, you want him
Look at him, you know you do
It's possible he wants you, too
There is one way to ask him
It don't take a word
Not a single word
Go on and kiss the boy
"You hear something?" Mabel asked.
Mermando shook his head innocently, so Mabel shrugged and assumed that the singing was coming from her heart. Truthfully, she did want to kiss him but still wondered about her dream guy...even though the guy sitting across from her was starting to become better than her dream guy.
"Sing with me now." Soos asked the frogs and fish.
ANIMALS AND SOOS:
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
My, oh, my
Look like the girl too shy
She ain't gonna kiss the boy
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Ain't that sad
Ain't it shame, too bad
You gonna miss the boy
"You know I feel really bad not knowing your name." Mabel admitted. "Maybe I can guess it. Is it Milton?"
Mermando looked disgusted.
"Okay no." Mabel chuckled. "How about Don? Raphael?"
"Mermando, his name is Mermando." Soos whispered from nearby.
"Mermando?" Mabel wasn't expecting that.
Mermando nodded.
"Oh." Mabel thought it over. "That's kinda catchy... Okay Mermando."
They then entered a section of the lagoon that was curtained by a weeping willow. Soos and the other animals went back to singing:
Now's your moment
Floating in a blue lagoon
Girl, you better do it soon
No time will be better
He don't say a word
And he won't say a word
Until you kiss the boy
The fish and turtles started swimming around the boat, making it swim around slowly. Fireflies flew around the boat to add the right mood lighting to the scene. A bit later on fish spat water into the air like a bunch of fountains.
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Don't be scared
You got the mood prepared
Go on and kiss the guy
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Don't stop now
Don't try to hide it how
You wanna kiss the boy
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Float along
Listen to the song
The song say kiss the boy
Sha-la-la-la-la-la
Music play
Do what the music say
You wanna kiss the boy
Mabel couldn't ignore her heart any longer. Not only was it telling her to kiss Mermando, it was also beating fast. She started to realize that she was falling in love with him...and that maybe he was the one after all. Maybe, she won't know for sure until...
She started to lean in. Mermando, his heart pounding, leaned in as well as he set his guitar aside.
You've got to kiss the boy
Why don't you kiss the boy
You gotta kiss the boy
Go on and kiss the boy
All the animals leaned in as well, excitedly watching as Mabel and Mermando were about to kiss. Stan was so excited that he nearly choked Soos as he shook him, until Soos poked him in the chest and glared at him. Stan quickly let go so that he wouldn't get pinched.
Suddenly, and unexpectedly, the boat tipped over.
"Oh come on!" Dipper facepalmed quietly, he and Wendy having watched the whole thing outside the willow curtain.
Soos, Wendy, and Stan facepalmed too and the rest of the animals scattered.
"Whoa hang on, I got you." Mabel said as she went over to Mermando...only to find that he had disappeared. "Mermando?"
Mermando came up with his guitar.
"Oh." Mabel smiled with relief; she then giggled. "You're a very good swimmer."
Mermando just blushed and smiled sheepishly. He was disappointed that she didn't kiss him, but he was also relieved that she wasn't mad about their unexpected bath. Especially since he had no idea how it happened.
Many feet away, Bud and Robbie high-fived.
"Nice work boys, that was a close one." Gideon said from his cave, having watched the whole thing from his crystal ball TV. "Too close! The little tramp, he's better than I thought! At this rate, she'll be kissing him by sunset for sure! Well it's time Gideon took matters into his own tentacles!"
He collected some ingredients and threw them into his cauldron. The resulting explosion surrounded him.
"Nereido's son will be mine, and then I'll see him writhe. I'll see him wriggle like a worm on a hook!" Gideon declared before laughing hysterically...as he started to change appearance.
Late that night, Mabel stayed up late playing the tune she remembered her dream guy singing on her flute. Dipper yawned as he came outside, just having woken up from hearing the tune.
"Mabel?" He said. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just having an...emotional conflict." Mabel admitted.
"Well, if I may say, far better than any dream guy is one warm and caring...and right before your eyes." He gestured to the window of Mermando's bedroom.
He then went back to bed...laughing inwardly at the irony of what he just said.
Mabel considered Dipper's words...and nearly threw away the flute. However she stopped herself upon remembering that it was a present from Dipper many years ago. He gave it to her not long after he got his guitar since she wanted to join him at music making. With a sigh, she just gazed out into the ocean for a moment and then started to head back inside...
Only to hear a familiar voice. Stunned, she turned back around and looked down. By the shore she saw a familiar looking guy wearing a glowing shell around his neck. Her mind started to fog over...