Mermaids in the Cove
Floating Palace Pt: 2
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And I reposted this twice so I could add something at the end.
Moving on.
xxx
Cedric snuck one of the two remaining life boats into the water. It was hard to stop cackling. He rocked the boat prancing his restless legs. Wormwood pecked and clawed him, adamantly urging him to lower his voice a scosh. Unless, of course, he wants to be seen, and play 20 questions on where he's going. It was just too easy. Admiral Hornpike couldn't have chosen a more opportune or better time to entertain the dimwitted masses than now. How easily amused Royals are at steering an oversized dinghy. And his one true obstacle was already ashore searching for pretty little seashells to amuse her inner girly-girl. Although, secretly, he is hoping she'll bring him that conchshell he asked for. It'll complete the collection he keeps downstairs.
"We're just going to borrow this lifeboat for a while and find a nice little hiding place." Cedric pet his faithful sidekick. "Far from the nosy noses of precocious princesses, and sassy sorceresses." Manning the rudder, Cedric led the boat to right to catch the splitting winds.
Caves hid on the east side of the island. The perfect place to plot in peace. Once inside, he will be able to chart his way to the bottom of Merroway Cove, where the elusive Mystical Comb to command the seas resides. With it, the power to control the oceans will be at his fingertips. Then Enchancia, and the entire world will be bowing at his feet. He mustn't get ahead of himself. The tricky part will be finding the comb. The rest will fall into place.
"Huh?" Cedric spotted Lydia's lifeboat docked at the beach. If she see's him coming, her curious nature will pry him for answers. He grabbed a pair of binocular, scanning the beachfront. "Where is she? Where..." He muttered. He fervently ran the binoculars side to side. A glimpse of a figure missed the eyewear. Cedric moved the scopes back a little. A chestnut haired girl was racing on the white sand. "There you are." He grinned. She and the bird of hers were racing to the rocks on the opposite side of the beach. "Good. She won't be anywhere near us."
Cedric edged the boat farther right, letting the current carry him and Wormwood into the stark and murky caves caves. "This is the perfect spot to hatch our scheme!" He sang. Wormwood's cawing echoed off the high ceiling. Cedric dropped anchor, stopping the boat on a dime. "And now for the piece de resistance!" He flipped through his spellbook. "The best part about being a Royal Sorcerer, Wormy, is that, unlike Sorcerers in training, we have every manner of spell at our disposal! Including this." He jabbed a finger to an aquatic spell. "With this spell, we will turn into the most magnificent sea creatures, and be able to traverse the depths to find the mermaid comb. And Princess Lydia and Sofia won't be able to get in our way! MWAHAHAHAHA!" He cackled maniacally. Wormwood threw in his own evil cackle. This day was going to be perfect. The young princess will be up the River Styx without a paddle.
xxx
"HO-MY-GOSH! She's a real life, genuine artical mermaid!" Lydia lost her footing, falling in the water.
Cora and Eezeyal shielded the splashed water. Lydia let herself sink for a spell. By then the water will have cooled her jets so she can speak with a semblance of composure and decorum. until then, she was giggling, squealing, and twirling under the water. An actual mermaid right in front of her. It was too much. Cora, however, was bored with Lydia's reaction. Starting to get a little irritated. Her one saving grace was that Eezeyal was too flabbergasted to speak. That Western drawl of his was kind of annoying. Cora wondered how Lydia put up with it.
Lydia gasped, drawing in a breath. She floated for a moment longer, eyeing Cora in order to come to grips with the reality of it all. "Alright. I think I'm good."
"Could have fooled me." Cora hissed under her breath.
"How'd you wind up here anyway?" Lydia swam up to her.
Cora guardedly folded her arms. Her glare warned Lydia to maintain their present distance. "Not that it's any of your business," Cora twisted away, raising her nose, "But I was looking for someone and was the designated snack for the sharks you scared off!" She barked, trying to sound tough and unshaken. However, if Lydia were able to see inside, Cora was trembled like a pot of seaweed. She was freaking out just like Lydia was. And it was hard to keep it all inside. Three huge sharks turned into bite sized bait right before her eyes. Too astonishing - and embarrassing - for words. "The next thing I knew, I was lodged between these rocks, and I can't move."
"So, all in all, you're having a good day." Lydia chortled.
"How does this constitute a good day?!" Cora gestured to her predicament. Humans' meaning for the word good escapes her.
"A few seconds too late and you'd be the catch of the day." Lydia peered into the water. The rocks had her tail nice and snug between them. "Instead, you've got someone stupid enough to jump down here, and lend you a hand." Lydia inhaled and went back down. She might be able to wiggle Cora free.
"In other words, Sweetheart," Eezeyal snarled at the pompously rude girl, "Show more gratitude and less attitude! If anythin' would've happened tuh Lydia fur savin' yer unappreciative hide-" Lydia's hand sprouted, and two pincer fingers stifled regrettable words.
"Eezeyal, leave her alone." Lydia sat him on a rock. "Cora has every last right to be hostile towards me." She pushed up on a rock, climbing out of the water. "After all, most of the legends we hear are how humans mistreat mermaids." She educated him, sauntering behind Cora. She wasn't too jammed. Though it will still be tricky freeing her. "Honestly, I'd be more surprised if she hadn't reacted this way."
Eezeyal threw a wing to his head, groaning dreadfully. "Lydia, sometimes, your understanding' nature kills me." He toppled over as proof.
"I'll revive you later." Lydia shooed him, too engrossed in her mission to free Cora. She crouched in close, humming with a hand at her chin.
Cora flinched every time she weaved side to side. She'd look at Cora, then back at the water. Those piercing eyes were very unnerving. "Mind telling me what's going through that human head of yours!" Cora demanded. She can't take the humming and staring anymore.
"I'm going to lift you out." Lydia announced point blank.
"What?! Why not just use that magical stick of yours?!" She liked that idea a whole lot better.
"I'm a trainee. There's no way for me to move these rocks without causing a rockslide." She seriously doubted she was strong enough to move them on her own. And Ubos was staying out of sight on the ledge. Probably so his presence wouldn't overwhelm the traumatized mermaid. "Or worse. I could accidentally hurt you."
"Wow...!" Cora scoffed in disbelief. "In a pinch, you're really useless!"
"That's it!" Eezeyal blindly charged. His talons extended. Lydia pinched him by the scruff of his neck. Cora yelped and threw herself back. The talons snapped inches from her nose. "I warned ya about bein' a total brat to her! A shame she's so kind! I could have convinced her to leave you here!"
"Enough, Eezeyal." She commanded strongly. She wasn't going to ask again. Eezeyal refused to stand there and listen to that half fish witch berate his girl. He knew Lydia would never allow him to hurt her. He flew for the cliff, soaring past Ubos and out of earshot of the rude mermaid. "Moving on." Lydia hooked Cora under her arms. "Be warned, you will feel some minor..." Lydia bobbed Cora, finding leeway, "Dis-COMFORT!" Lydia mustered her strength and hoisted Cora hard. Cora let out a scream, throwing her head back, and yanking her tail free. "WH-WH-WHOA!" The girls stumbled and crashed against one another to the wall. Cora groaned dazedly, cradled in Lydia's lap. "See. That wasn't so bad." Lydia laughed. Cora growled past grit teeth. "Now then…" Cora noticeable stiffened when Lydia drew her wand, "Let's do something with-"
"LET-GO-OF-ME!" She wrestled and flailed in Lydia's arms. Her tail frequently smacked Lydia in the face. Salt and fish scales stung her eyes. "GET OFF ME, HUMAN!" She shoved Lydia's head, crushing it on the rocks. Her free hand pounding blindly at her knees. She did whatever she could to get Lydia to let her go.
"CALM DOWN!" Lydia jerked, evading the wild blows as best she could. Cora had muscle behind her. She almost knocked her wand out of her hand. "YOU'RE HURT!" Lydia caught the high fly slap. She trapped Cora's hand in her lap, wrapping her free arm around her back. "LOOK!" Lydia tapped Cora's tail. She winced at a sting. The rocks rubbed searing red sores on both sides of her tail. From being stuck for so long and fighting to get free, Cora opened them to superficial scars. "Geez! You're worse than James!" Lydia released her hands. She angled her wand to the scratches, "Heal!" Green, leafy streams coiled Cora's tail, erasing the unsightly blemishes. Cora watched and marveled at the graceful streams. Icy clawing massaged the wounds. The soreness was steadily fading, but clung fervently. "There you go…" Cora shook out of her daze. Lydia was finished. Her grasp was loosening. Cora wiggled her tail, testing the effect...and her room to move. The water is deep enough there. "It'll run it's course, and you'll be good as new. How does that feel?"
"Fine! Can I go?" She barked. "Or are you going to mount me on your ship?"
"As fun as that sounds…" Cora squeaked rising into the air. It was coming from that magic stick she had, "Someone must be looking for you." Lydia waved her wand, carefully lowering Cora to a pool she can submerge in. Cora idly floated in place, too stunned that a human was really about to let a fascination of myth just swim off. "It was nice meeting you, Cora. Be safe." Lydia waved.
Cora bit her lip. "LIKE I NEED YOU TO TELL ME THAT!" She heatedly dove. Her tail swatted, dousing Lydia head to toe.
Lydia only laughed, taking that as the most hotheaded thanks she's gotten. "Still more tolerable than hildegard." She waved her wand over her feet. Pressure built and launched her up the cliff. Ubos and Eezeyal ogled her wet form. "Cora splashed me." She wrung her hair.
"THAT UNGRATEFUL BI-"
"EZEE! LANGUAGE!" Lydia shrieked. This is a kids show, for crying out loud. Sure Maleficent got away with their Hell references. But she would not allow her bird to drop a B-Bomb. "She's a mermaid. It's only natural she'd be suspicious of me."
"Oh so that's why you were hollering like a madman." Ubos cooed tauntingly. He bounced a sly brow, "It would appear there is truth to your sister's book after all." Lydia grunted irately, furrowing her brow. She and Eezeyal aren't buying it for a second. As if he was hiding it. "Yes?"
Lydia pinched Ubos's cheeks, stretching them and earning strained whimpers. "Talk, Book! Have you, or have you not, met Mermaids before?!"
"OW! IF YOU WOULD...STOP HURTING ME...I'D BE HAPPY...TO TELL YOU!" His skin was another tug from being ripped off. Lydia stretched them to the brink and let them snap back into place. He moaned with relief. Throbbing red cheeks emanating pain. "Much appreciated. Now then, why don't we return to the Floating Palace, and I will explain on the way."
"Good idea." Eezeyal full heartedly agreed. "Sofia's gonna flip her lid when she hears about yer new friend." And he used that term VERY, VERY loosely.
"Heck yeah she will!" Lydia tensed up, stifling her out of control laughing from bursting. "She's going to be green with envy! But first," Lydia reached behind her back, producing a speckled, peach colored conchshell, "Do you think Cedric will like this one."
Eezeyal whistled as if he just struck gold. He pulled a monocle from nowhere, curating the sea worn, spectacularly curved shell. "Woo-Wee, Liddy! Cedric might ask fur yer hand when ya give 'im this!" A cherry red blush consumed her whole face. Her in a white wedding gown and Cedric putting a ring on her finger.
Lydia clapped hands to her cheeks and scream, shaking that image far, far, far in the back of her flustered mind. "EEZEYAL! DON'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT!"
"Indeed, Eezeyal!" Ubos reprimanded. "Our dear Princess will be the one asking for his hand."
"UBOS!" She lunged for him. Ubos easily escaped her grasp. He and Eezeyal ran off for the boat, singing about Lydia and Cedric kissing in a tree. "ARGH! I'm gonna kill you, you dimwits!" She hopped, skipped, and jumped after them, stumbling on the sandy landing. "COME BACK HERE!"
xxx
Cora's fin kicked at the speed of light, carrying her not far enough from that strange human or her world. Not to say she isn't grateful for her help. Though it wasn't need. "I did her a favor!" Cora haughtily flipped her nose to the air. "The human saw a mermaid, and she can tell her 'air breathing friends' that she helped one from rocks." She used repulsive air quotes. Her flaring irritation heated the ocean for miles. She would have gotten herself free eventually. Any idiot can lift and pull their body free on their own. Cora didn't have to be that human's damsel in distress. "OOH! Look at me! My magic stick makes cheap magic! Let me lift you and snare you with vines!" Cora exaggeratedly swung her hips, poking sparkly, bubble cheeks. She stuck her tongue, gagging. "Wonder if she's part of a traveling act! Because that was fit for a theatre!"
Pleasant icy hot tingles agitated her tail sides near the hips. She touched her hands to the spots. The smooth rub surprised her. The wounds had vanished completely. Cora paused, trying to fathom how this was possible. It's like nothing was ever there. And the burning pain was gone. 'It'll run its course, and you'll be good as new.' She was right. Her tail was good as new. When she thought about, thrashing in that girl's lap agitated her wounds. Cora faced the surface in awe. That strange human - Lydia, she called herself - healed her. Helped her - if one were to go so far.
"HMPH! Probably a trick!" Cora spun and dove further. "Now, back to finding Oona." She calmed her mind, thinking of a little sister she was going to kill for disappearing all of a sudden.
Oona, as Cora well knew, liked to go to the surface and watch the human sail by. That's the whole reason Cora bothered to go near the surface. And what does she get? Trapped on the rocks by sharks, and discovered by a weird human. That Oona. Always taking unnecessary risks to catch a glimpse of air breathers. Or collect some sort of strange human trinket to add to the huge collection she stores at her…shipwreck. "The shipwreck!" Cora snapped her fingers, having an epiphany. There's a shipwreck in a grotto Oona loves to hide away in. A getaway from the nosy big sister and worrisome mother.
Jagged ledges of a chasm occupied by urchins and blossoming coral approached. A kelp forest surrounded the chasm, a sign Cora was in the general area. She darted straight down, swimming past the rise and finding the shipwreck where Oona left it. By the screaming and hollering, she guessed Oona had frantic seahorse company.
"Leave it to Sven to give away Oona's position." She chortled. She swam to the wreck's side entrance. A glowing light escaped the opened door. Oona lights a lantern when she's there. Helps her see since the sunlight doesn't reach too far. Cora arched her knuckles to announce her arrival.
"YOU MUST SEE THE DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY!" That hypochondriac voice sprouted a red flag in the back of Cora's mind.
"See the Doctor?" She leaned to the gaping hole. Oona, another girl, and a seahorse turned to stone at her arrival. "About what?!" She snapped, already predicting the little seahorse was overreacting.
"Oona hurt her fine!" The seahorse whimpered. He was about to have a heart attack.
"Sven, relax." Cora waved it off. He has a terrible habit of turning a octopus hill into a volcano. "Let's have a look." Cora swam to inspect Oona's hurt fine. It was a little swollen, but nothing to panic over. "You just need a little moon kelp." Panic over nothing.
Sven screeched like a sea monkey. "I'll go get some!" He was gone in a flash.
"Who's your friend?" She happily addressed the mer-elephant in the room.
"This is Sofia. Sofia, this is Cora, my sister." Oona strained the sister part.
"BIG sister." Cora corrected. It's important to use the proper honorific. Otherwise people will get confused on who's in charge when their mom isn't around.
"Pleased to meet you." Sofia formally curtsied. A habit from all her princess training.
"Here's the moon kelp!" Sven animatedly announced. Oona reached to apply it.
"I'll-take-that!" Cora snatched it. She stretched and smoothed it out.
"I can do it myself, Cora!" Oona protested.
"It needs to be put on JUUSST right…" Cora cryptically wrapped the kelp to her left fin. "There. How does that feel?"
Oona reluctantly wagged her tail. She didn't need Cora's hovering. But if she didn't at least pretend to appreciate the help, Cora would never leave them alone. "Good." She threw in a half smile.
"You really should be more careful, Oona." Cora continued her lecture from the broken hole.
"I am careful! What are you doing here anyway?"
"MOM wanted me to check on you." Cora flaunted her sisterly superiority.
"I'm FINE, Cora. I'm always...fine!" She spat the last word. If she was anymore fine, she'd probably be bunking with Davy Jones by now.
"Just checking." Cora mocking reminded, then finally swam off.
It depressed Oona a lot of the time how often Cora seems to get a kick out of playing the big sister role. Always mollycoddling Oona, telling everyone she's the BIG sister, and always in her business dusk to dawn. Sure she's the youngest, but Cora doesn't have to constantly remind her. Oona perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Getting snared in the net by Sofia's Floating Palace notwithstanding.
It's really thanks to that net Oona met Sofia. Had she not gone to the surface to investigate the ship entering the cove, she'd be enduring Cora's ranting on her own. Not only does she get a new friend, but one that can turn from a human to a mermaid because of an enchanted amulet. Although, part of her wished Sofia didn't have to see Cora treat her like a kid. That was a little embarrassing.
Oona drifted to a seat on her treasure chest. Sofia sat beside her, wanting to comfort her in any way she could. "Cora still treats me like a little Merbaby." She moaned.
"That's what big sisters do." Sven explained, experienced from his own nightmare. "I have 12." It is a neverending spiral of babying and teasing.
"My big sister fusses over me a lot too." Sofia joined in. She was more accepting of Lydia's pestering than Sven or Oona. Lydia can go a bit over the top when it comes to Sofia's safety.
"You have a big sister too?"
"Two of them actually." Sofia showed two fingers.
"Argh. One is bad enough." Oona slumped miserably. "Cora never leaves me alone. She always has to know what I'm doing every second of the day."
"Lydia does the same thing." Sofia can't think of a time back at the village when Lydia wasn't going mad looking for her. "But, most of the time, she lets me do my own thing as long as I promise to be careful."
"I can swear on the Mermaid's Oath to be careful and Cora will still be watching me."
"There are times where I'm glad she always knows where I'm at."
"Why?" Oona remarked, shocked there is a younger sibling that likes nosy older siblings.
"Because then I know where she'll be, and we'll be able find each other if we're in trouble."
xxx
A good thing Admiral Hornpike was restricting the ship to the cove. The speed such a huge vessel possessed was impressive. Even with the wind, Lydia had a hard time catch up to the Floating Palace. She caught it on a turn, drifting up alongside the pulleys. Next time she decides to borrow a boat, she'll have a wind spell specifically for boats on hand. She hooked the ropes by bow, stern, and sides. Sure they were fastened properly, she flicked of her wand and the lifeboat was hoisted securely into place.
"Where's the other lifeboat?" Ubos asked quizzically. The empty space baffled them.
"Maybe one of the others borrowed it." Lydia proposed. They weren't exactly watching the water. Anyone could have drifted by. "Come on! Let's find Sofia we can tell her-"
"HAND OVER THE BERRIES OR I TURN YOU INTO A SIDE DISH!" Someone roared near the swimming platform.
"I know that rag-tag, thug life voice anywhere!" Eezeyal dashed after it. Lydia and Ubos ran after him. He was a fast flyer when it came right down to it.
"Hoo-hoo! Careful, Mate! Your face might stay like that." An Aussie voice taunted.
Eezeyal, Lydia, and Ubos poked their heads around the corner. This is something they don't see everyday. Clover was squaring off cowboy style with a seagull, circling a full bag of blueberries. Paws and wings spread wide. Eyes shifting between the bag and each other. Feet tracing and ready to pounce.
"When the hoo-hay did he get here?!" Eezeyal slapped his forehead dumbstruck.
"My guess is he's the snoring I heard in the blueberries." Lydia whispered, trying not to laugh and give them away. "But what's with the seagull?"
"A local of beach side regions." Ubos educated nonchalantly. "Scavengers that they are, they'll see food that they like and will take it for themselves."
"No wonder Clover ain't nappin'." Eezeyal snorted. Clover banked left, then he banked right. He wasn't close to getting the berries back, but that seagull would need to be quick on his webbed toes if he wanted it. "Only time I see that bunny movin' is when food is nearby."
"Not true. He moves for Sofia." Ubos testified to Clover's good qualities.
"Then leaves her for breakfast." Lydia and Ubos had to give him that one.
"Ain't no way you're stealing my lunch. HYAAHHH!" Clover sprang into a flying karate kick. "YOU'RE MINE!" The seagull, unimpressed, flew up. Clover landed in a mop bucket. It spun like a top, falling over with him stuck inside. "Man…"
"Well that was fun." The seagull gripped the bag. His spanned wings picked up the wind. "Toodaloo, Bunny!" He wagged his tail feathers tauntingly, flying off with the bag of goodies.
"MARK MY WORDS, SEAGULL," Clover shook a vengeful paw, "My lunch will be mine again!"
"Them's fightin' words, Clover." Clover rolled the bucket. He sank dreadfully at his arrived audience. Lydia, Ubos, and Eezeyal couldn't resist having a fun at his expense. "The great Clover outsmarted by a seaside scavenger." Eezeyal clicked his tongue in disappointment, driving the knife deeper.
"Who asked you, ya fling feather duster!" Clover barked. Lydia planted the bucket. She grasped the tuft of Clover's neck. He popped free like a cork. "OH! Thanks, Lydia."
"No problem." Lydia set him on the railing, petting him to ease his humiliation. "Where'd Sofia get off to? I saw her with you before I left."
"You'll never believe it if I told you." He would swear under oath to that one.
"Try us." Ubos, Lydia, and Eezeyal dared him.
Clover pondered whether to ask them to sit down or not. He was there for the whole thing and he thought he'd become paralyzed from the waist down. He itched his head, finding a good place to start his fish tale. It all started when he was telling Sofia about how he came to be on the ship in the first place. He took a nap in a box of heavenly, juicy, ripe blueberries, and the next thing he knew, he was on the ship. Then, almost immediately out of nowhere, Sofia was on a mad tear to the swimming platform, thinking she saw a mermaid. Of course Clover thought she was fooling around. Mermaid's don't exist. Boy was he wrong. A cute little Mermaid named Oona was swimming around the ship, spying on Sofia and Clover. Well, not spying. More like piquing her curiosity.
"We met a mermaid earlier, too." Lydia announced. She was still skipping like a school girl. "Her name's Cora-"
Eezeyal plowed into her head, bending her practically to the floor, "AND SHE'S AN UNGRATEFUL WITCH!" He roared animally. "Liddy wastes precious energy tuh help her, and she doesn't even offer a thanks!"
"EE-NOUGH!" Lydia bucked straight up, tossing Eezeyal overboard. "Geez." She massaged her hair flat. "Keep going, Clover. What happened to Oona next?"
"Her tail ended up getting caught in the net and Sofia helped save her. But when she tried to swim off, Oona had hurt her fin from getting caught." Lydia and Ubos moaned woefully. Sea creatures far and wide are constantly hurt by nets. Durable in water, but fragile one land. "Sofia put her feet in the water to help bring Oona back on board. That's when it got...magical, and weird."
"What do you mean by weird?" Lydia found it hard to fathom anything stranger than two mermaids appearing in one day.
"Sofia's amulet started glowing," Clover dramatically wriggled his paws. The glow fresh in his mind, "And before you know," He lied on his back, flutter kicking his hind legs, "Her legs were gone and...she grew a mermaid tail!" He yanked his ears.
"SHE WHAT!?" Lydia and Eezeyal gasped. Ubos, however, snickered off to the side. He wasn't too surprised. "SO-SO-SOFIE'S...a mermaid?" Lydia felt light headed. Her elbows propped on the railing. Her weak knees seconds away from kindling. Eezeyal expediently flapped, cooling her off. She was spinning like a top and wasn't stopping. Even for her, this was too much. She knows the amulet lets her talk with animals because she saved a baby bird. And she claimed Cinderella was summoned as a sort of projection when Sofia really needed her. But turning her into a mermaid? "Can the Amulet really do that?"
"She said because she saved Oona, the amulet let her change into a mermaid." Clover reiterated, sounding unconvinced even though he witnessed it. "
"As it should." Ubos chuckled menacingly. Lydia and Eezeyal grunted irritably, losing patience with his complacency. Him being aware of the unknown or mysterious was becoming an aggravating pattern. Ubos graced his audience with a sly grin. He hopes they are listening. He intends to educate these youngsters. "With each deed performed, for better or worse, a power is granted - a blessing or curse." They know the Amulet's Credo. Using it to sound omnipotent was curling their toes. "Your sister's good deeds permit her to converse with animals, and swim amongst the legends."
"Lucky her." Lydia clamped a hand to his crown, forcing him to meet her angry eyes, "Anything else you know that you're going to dance around telling us?" She seethed. It went without saying: she hates mind games. Cedric plays them enough.
"My Dear Princess," Ubos purred dauntingly, impassive to her claws, "Do not make me to be duplicitous. It will hurt my feelings."
"NOT AS MUCH AS RIPPING YOUR PAGES WILL!" Lydia tore him open, pinching a page. "Do not test me, Book! Why are you keeping things from me?" Ubos hasn't been acting like himself since hearing about the mermaids.
"I am hiding nothing. There are just things I cannot reveal." Lydia's head cooled. She took her fingers off the page, closing Ubos. She paused a moment, deciphering the message between the lines.
"Ain't that the same thing?" Eezeyal disparaged.
"Nope." Lydia soothed Ubos by petting his spine, assuaging her wrath from his bindings. "There's a huge difference. And, Ubos," She hugged him to her chest, "I'm sorry for losing faith in you."
"Apology accepted." Eezeyal and Ubos let is slide. They didn't have the first clue what the two were talking about.
"AW! SO NOT FAIR!" Lydia ruffled her hair furiously. "Sofia get's to be a mermaid while I'm stuck on land!"
"Who was meant to be green with envy again?" Eezeyal teased her.
"Oh shut it!" She'd flick him, but the feeling of a shell in her bag reminded her of an errand she had to run. Cedric's conch shell. "Alright," She stretched her arms, working off her stiff muscles, "I'm going to give this shell to Cedric." She spun it on her finger. It'll probably be a while before Sofia came home. "Then maybe I'll see if I can't steer the ship to kill time."
"You gonna tell the others who you met today?" Clover asked sneakily.
"You kidding? There's no way they'd ever believe me."She jogged for Cedric's ship tower. As said before: this was too farfetched a fish tale. No one would buy it. Lydia can hardly bring herself to believe, and she was there. Cedric's head is gonna flip.
"CEDRIC!" Lydia pounded on his door. It was unlocked. "Cedric! I got your...hm? Cedric?" No one was home. She searched the narrow room. Wormwood was gone too. "Where did they go?" A lifeboat is missing. "Did Cedric change his mind and decide to go ashore?" If that's the case, she didn't see him sail in. He must have gone to another side of the island. Lydia angrily curled her lips in, "So much for not one for recreation!" He probably just wasn't in the mood to go to the island with her! He's such a loner it ticked her off. "Jerk!" She slammed the door, shaking a portrait off the wall. She stormed for the wheelhouse. Lightning sparked from her ears and headband. "I'm not sensitive, Cedric! You could have just said no!" Would that really be too difficult for him?
xxx
"BRILLIANT!" James howled, a fake pipe bobbing in his lips. The captain's hat was twisted sideways. A rebel captain was James's dream job. "OUR GOAL IS THE EDGE OF THE WORLD!" He spun the helm with all his might, stopping it on a dime. Admiral Hornpike was more than content with letting him spin the wheel as he pleased. The anchor was dropped anyway, and the engine was shut down. The only movement came from the waves. "FULL STEAM AHEAD!" He thrust a fist to the horizon. A regular war monger of the ocean...who has to stand on a box to peak above the wheel.
Amber laughed behind her fan. "Ladies and gentlemen, the world's shortest helmsman!" She threw her head back, howling with laughter.
"Says the girl who's shorter than I am!" He cackled.
"Not by much!" She placed a palm to her head, and over the air where James usually stands. "NOT BY MUCH AT ALL!" Miranda, Baileywick, Hornpike, and Roland laughed at their childish banter. She pointed her fan at him, declaring war, "Give it another year! You'll shrink again!"
"Hate to break it to you, Amber," Lydia strolled up behind, admiring James's sub-par driving skills, "But James is going to be taller than Mom when he gets older." Miranda was a foot taller than Lydia without heels on.
"NO WAY!" Roland, Baileywick, and Hornpike silently confirmed Lydia's statement. James bared his teeth in a gremlin grin. "So not fair!" Amber threw herself down, folding her arms in a pout.
"It's genetics, and they aren't fair." Miranda hated to kick her while she's down. "Speaking of heights, where's your shorter half, Lydia?" She raised a question mark by Lydia's head. "Where's Sofia gotten off to?"
"OH! UM…she's…" Lydia nervously fiddled her fingers. She's in the ocean swimming with mermaids, is what she'd love to say. Then she'd have to explain how that's possible, and Sofia's protective of her Amulet's powers. Worst case scenario is they won't believe her, and decide to look for her. And then Lydia will get read the riot act for not keeping on eye on her. "She's playing somewhere on the ship. Or she might be in the library reading again. I'll go find her." Lydia couldn't escape the wheelhouse fast enough. Miranda and Roland shared similar bewildered looks. Lydia was squirrelly at the randomest of times.
"Ever get the feeling she and Sofia are hiding something?" Amber crossly planted hands on her hips. Roland furrowed his brow. 'Eezeyal told me.' The way she admits that with a straight face, I have to agree.
xxx
Ubos and Eezeyal had their brows furrowed grimly, humming in stormy thought. They were in some pickle. It's rare for them to be stumped in regards to a matter so trivial. Clover restlessly paced back and forth, close to wearing a hole in the swimming platform. The phrase, Where there's a will there's a way replayed incessantly in his bunny mind. He knew there was a way. There has to be.
"I will get my lunch back from that stupid bird!" Clover's vow startled Ubos and Eezeyal. "All I need are wings, a string, and for the wind to pick up!"
"It'd have to be a hurricane to lift your gluttonous butt." Eezeyal groaned.
"Meaning what?!" Clover smashed his face to Eezeyal's. Eezeyal was too tired to argue with him. "Speak up, Duster!"
"Leave me alone…" Eezeyal flew off for the second deck. Maybe he'll get some sleep there.
"GET BACK HERE! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU!" Clover chased after him.
Ubos sighed dismally. Church bells tolled when Lydia walked on scene. "How do you put up with the arguing?" He hadn't realized how exhausting it is until he was the silent third party.
"Take it in stride and smile." Lydia flashed him a mockful smile.
"Now who's being indirect?" Ubos pursed his lips.
Laps rankled the water, splashing the platform. Small hands gripped the edges, and Sofia pulled herself half on. Her seahorse tiara and hair dripped wet. Her new coral lined blouse sticky with salt water. She exhaled somberly, lifting her purple tail. Her mermaid tail was a short lived gift. She's sad thinking she'd never be able to use it again. And just when she's mastered it. She and Oona would have had the best time together.
Sofia jumped when Lydia knelt to her, greeting her and her mermaid tail with a light smile. She giggled nervously, flapping her tail in the water. Lydia's staring at the tail made her self conscious. Her cheeks turned bright red, unsure what to say right now. Sofia wanted to show Lydia her new power. But Oona really needed her help. There wasn't any time. Her stomach tied in knots. Lydia's going to think she's been keeping secrets again. Like with the amulet when she first learned Sofia can speak with animals.
"My little sister's really a mermaid." Lydia finally broke the silence. "You've been keeping secrets. Hiding amongst the humans?" She winked.
"S-Sorry…" She wasn't able to speak higher than a squeak.
"Don't be." Lydia reassured her. It wasn't a big deal. Not like she was around to witness it. "You make for a cute mermaid, Sis. Nice work." Sofia offered a weak smile, then it faded as she gazed sadly to the ocean. "Something happen?"
"It's...a long story." Sofia hugged the ledge, lying her head down.
Lydia kicked off her sandals and put her legs in the water. She tenderly pet Sofia. She leaned in, coaxing Sofia to confide in her with a smile. "I've got time."
Sofia knew Lydia wouldn't give up until she confessed. Who knows. Talking about it all might actually make her feel better. "Okay." She took a breath. "So I met this girl, Oona, and she's a mermaid and-"
"HEELLP!" A cry came from the ocean. A blond haired little girl waved frantically from far away. "SOOFIIA!" She dove back under. Lydia's eyes flew wide at the golden brown tail briefly above water. Two...The amazement was replaced by fear when a large purple mass broke the surface, diving after the mermaid.
"Was that…" Lydia prayed that wasn't the same Oona.
"THAT WAS OONA!" Sofia swam from the edge. "She's in trouble! I have to help her!" Sofia dove back into the abyss.
"SOFIA/PRINCESS, WAIT!" Ubos and Lydia cried. Sofia was already gone, chasing after Oona and that monster.
Lydia scrambled on land, clawing her scalp in a craze. She moaned and whimpered frantically, pacing side to side as if she planned to swim after her. "Ubos we have to do something!" Lydia begged for an idea. "Otherwise that shark is going to hurt Sofia and Oona!" At least she hoped that was a shark.
"That was no shark in the water! It was a monster I've yet to log!" Ubos declared. It may have been brief and too far for human eyes, but he knows what he saw dive after that young creature. "We must go after them!"
"How?!" She was going to lose her mind. "I can't hold my breath that long, and there's no way we can swim that fast!" Ubos has no problem breathing under water.
"Then it is a good thing your instructor came, because you are about to learn another spell! Take a deep breath!" Ubos spread his pages. Lydia knew where this was leading. She breathed in, clamped her nose and mouth. Ubos slammed the pages. They vanished in gold smoke, then reappeared way down deep underwater. Lydia's glossy eyes implored Ubos to hurry. The lack of oxygen second to Sofia's safety. "Human to fish - a spell often used by Merlin himself. Pay close attention!" Ubos closed his eyes. A golden glow outlined his form. It warmed the water around them. "Aquarius aquaticus aqualitus QUO!" His eyes flared open, completely whitened out. He sucked in some of the water. "Manta Fanta mu-ta-ti-OH!" Releasing the pent up water, a whirlpool formed at Lydia's feet, gradually scaling her body and sucking her in.
Lydia disappeared in the maelstrom. Ubos watched it run it's course, desperately wishing it would hurry. By the glow piercing the aquatic wall, what he planned was already in full swing. Lydia wrestled and fought to not be sucked down further. The pressure trapping her was crushing her from all sides. Her head swelled to her breaking point, and she released what remained of her air. The whirlpool steadily ascended. Ubos swam lower, watching closely for the any imperfections or missteps. As the whirlpool shrank at the bottom, a proud smile brightened his face. A long whipping, pointed maroon tail took the place of where Lydia's legs would be. A stylish black lining at her hips. the whirlpool shrank and shrank, holding a strong form at Lydia's head. A bare midriff showed, followed by a maroon and black stencil scaled top. A form of seaweed and coral by the look of it. The whirlpool condensed to a rapidly orbiting ring, sucking her hair and a long black cape aloft. A silver tiara dressing an opal to her forehead joined her headband. Ubos spat a quick puff, and the ring burst into bubbles, letting Lydia's hair, and her split cape loose.
"PAAAHH-UUHHH!" Lydia choked for air. The whole world was spinning.
"Deep, slow breaths, Lydia! Relax." Ubos comforted her.
"HOW THE HECK CAN I RELAX?!" She roared. "This is the second time you've tried to drown me-wait." She was just drowning a second ago. Ubos teleported them underwater. Last time she checked, she can't breathe underwater. Not only is she breathing, she's screaming at Ubos at the top of her lungs. Lydia scrolled her eyes up. The lapping surface was yards above. The bright light, she's assuming, is the sun. She looked down. Schools of fish swam right by. "I'm still underwater...aren't I?"
"Indeed you are." Ubos crooned.
Oxygen, in the middle of the water, was flowing into her lungs. Lydia pinched herself, slapped herself, and looked for the prince of her dreams. She isn't dreaming. She hasn't lost her mind. But she has lost her legs. "MY LEGS!" She screamed at the tail. Ubos chuckled at her reaction. Lydia whipped the tail. She ran her hands over it. It was scaley and smooth. "Oh...wow..." She giggled. "I'm breathing underwater...I'M-BREATHING-UNDERWATER!" She flipped and dove, flamboyantly hooting and hollering. "THIS IS INCREDIBLE!" She blew past a colony of urchins. She dove above and under arches, circling Ubos and making him dizzy. "I can't believe this is real! How have I not known about this spell? OH!" She touched her chest. Rubbery skin was attached to her new top. It along her shoulder blades to a certain point. Long, wide flowy flaps curled around her. Black on the outside, and maroon on the inside. "These look like...wings?"
"Flippers, actually." Ubos corrected. "In place of a mermaid, I've made you into a Manta Ray."
"A-MAZING!" She cupped her flushed cheeks. "This...is...so...AMAZING!" She couldn't contain it. It was too great.
"Princess! Sofia! Giant sea monster!" Ubos reminded her.
"Oh yeah!" Lydia riled her wings, building momentum, "I'm coming, Sofia!" She rocketed off, leaving Ubos in her dust. Bubbles, technically. Either way, he had to pour all his magic in to catch up with her.
Lydia's flippers beat the water, gliding her up and down in rhythmic sways. It was harder than it looked. She'd lose the rhythm - one wing rose and the other fell - and dart off in a random direction. A sea turtle she ricocheted off would never forgive her. An octopus out with his lady friend vowed revenge. And a bunch of eels promised to bite her in the ankles for leaving them in knots. Resistance at her depth relentlessly met her flippers, hauling her faster the deeper she swam. Lydia was undeterred. Her sister and her new friend needed her help. And she wasn't too far behind. She shortened her wings' flap radius. On an instinct she wasn't aware of, the wings folded and narrowed to a sharp angle. She rocketed through the water, diving every so often to keep the speed. Her cheeks were being stretched back. Her hair erecting to spikes. Her tail spiraled like a propeller, adding to her speed. Lungs burning, heart racing, salt water rejuvenating the pores. Lydia was on fire.
Ubos lost every ounce of stamina by the time he reached ten feet of her tail. He gathered what little strength he had and focused it on his back. A powerful burst launched him onto Lydia's back, temporarily shaking her off course. "DOWN THERE!" Ubos thrust a corner. A seaweed forest nested inside a small gorge. Sunshine blond hair pierced the ocean's encompassing shadows. A massive purple beast, with a black squid, was hot on that golden brown tail. And Sofia was behind him. "DIVE! DIVE! DIVE!"
"AHOOGA!" Lydia spun into a corkscrew, closing the distance to Sofia.
"'SCUSE ME! Pardon me! Excuse me!" A school of aggressively polite fish caused Lydia to fumble. Her wings nicked a group, spinning her out of control. Ubos was flipped off her back, launched toward the surface. Lydia flailed wildly to stop. Her wings wouldn't spread. She came to an abrupt stop, snugged by the hips. Her savior a hole in a rock formation.
"Ugh...someone stop the ride…" She has circles in her eyes. The world swirling into focus. Sofia was farther away. Worse still, the sea monster gaining on Oona. "No! GRR!" She pushed on the rock, wiggling her hips violently. The rock held on tight. "DANG!" She bore her piercing blue eyes on the sea monster. Then to Oona. They make it to the kelp forest, Lydia will lose them, and it'll be anyone's game to find her before the sea monster. "Time to see how far I can go." Lydia squeezed her eyes closed. She focused hard on Oona. Turquoise smoke enveloped her.
Oona propelled her arms vehemently. Her tail kicked the water, firing on all cylinders. She would look back every so often. The purple, octopus like sea monster encroaching little by little. She weaved in between the kelp. Sharp turns and flips gained her a short lead before the sea monster caught up again. That black squid friend of his attacked from out of nowhere. He was materializing virtually from the kelp. Oona, at the speed she was swimming, was barely able to evade him.
A pinch shot up her tail. It wasn't fully healed from the net incident. The sea monster's victorious laughter was at her ear. His tentacle stretched. Oona closed her eyes. This was it. The suckers curled for the fin."Glaciem Transfigere!" (Ice Pierce)Ice spikes hailed from above, stacking in a wall.
"WHOA-WHOA!" The sea monster weaved back. He went splat to the wall, peeling off like dazed wallpaper.
Oona slowed to a halt. She gaped in awe of the towering wall. "Where did that come from?" She breathless marveled.
"HURRY, OONA!" Oona looked up. A manta ray girl wielding a ferociously sparkling stick maintained the wall. She twisted around. Her gleaming blue eyes entranced Oona. Who is she? What was she doing there? How does she know her name. Oona had so many questions. "OONA! RUN!"
"UH! RIGHT!" Oona curled and rocketed off into the kelp forest. A black squid darted past, chasing Oona inside.
"Ow…" The sea monster groaned, rubbing his sore nose. Everything else hurt too. "What moron left a well in the middle of the ocean?" A wall made of ice no less. "Hold on…"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A MORON, UGLY?!" Lydia sprouted above the wall. Icy pins gathered to her wand tip.
"WHAT IN THE?!" The sea monster - unknown to Lydia as Cedric - felt his head explode. How in the world is she down here?! It's not possible for her to perform a transformation of this magnitude.
"GLACIEM TRANSFIGERE!" Volleys of icy spikes howled for the sea monster. He propped on his suckers and darted out of the way. The spikes ruptured the bed, erupting a cloud.
"Too slow, child!" Cedric came around behind her, drawing his wand.
"He has a wand?!" Lydia whipped around.
"LAQUEUM ANCORIS!" (Lasso Anchor). Three, twirling bright yellow bolas whisked clean through the water.
"APE-" The bolas constricted her arms, wings, and tail. Her wand fell from her fingers. Several elastic strands sprouted and staked the seabed. The bands tensed and the bed crashed against Lydia's back.
"Way too slow, Little Girl!" He mocked. He'd call her princess, but that'd give away too much. "Now then, if you'll excuse me."
"HEY!" The sea monster swam off for Oona. "GET BACK HERE! OYE!" The binds tightened the harder she struggled. "Dang it!"
"Lydia?!" Sofia shrieked.
Lydia titled her head back. "Sofia!"
"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!" Sofia grasped at the energy ropes, tugging with her small arms. "Who did this! And…" She stopped pulling to marvel at Lydia's Manta Form, "How did you transform into this?!"
"NEVERMIND ME! The Sea Monster is still after Oona! Hurry!"
"But-"
"Now, Sofia!" Sofia flinched back. She grudgingly nodded and raced for Oona. Lydia curled up as much as the band allowed. Her wand was out of reach. "Stupid...clown faced...GRAH!"
"There you are!" Ubos dove. He opened and slammed his pages. A shockwave dissipated the binds. Lydia fanned her wings, scooping her wand. "You really are a hard person to find!"
"If you can't keep up, you'll lose me again!" Lydia coiled her tail on the floor and sprang into ramming speed.
"WAIT!" Ubos was too late. Lydia was a mile away in seconds. He dropped exasperated. "I'm too old to match these young people…"
xxx
Sofia's lungs were on fire. She tracked the monster and Oona to where the kelp forest was at its thickest. The surrounding ridge intercepted the sun's rays, leaving her in dim lighting. Sofia was sure she saw Oona dive into the forest. After that she lost track of them. The kelp seemed to grow right before her eyes. To her despair, Oona and the monster were gone. Vanished into thin air.
"Where...did...they go…" She was fresh out of breath. Nevertheless she swam on. "Oona? OONA?! OONA!" She called. Oona had to hear her. She just had to. "No...NO! Where is she?!" Lydia entered the kelp forest, scouring the floor for any sign of Oona, the monster, or Sofia. "LYDIA! UP HERE!" Sofia dove for her.
"Sofia!" Lydia met her mid way. "Where's Oona?!"
"That Sea Monster took her!" She shrilly sobbed. "Oona's gone!"
"No way..." They were too late.
xxx
The Sea Monster - unknown to the Princesses to be Cedric - truculently parted the kelp, shooting rancorous daggers at the sorceress princess. Sofia frantically tried to catch her breath, flying into intrepid detail about how she lost Oona in the kelp. Cedric crushed kelp in his suckers, gnawing on the inside of his cheek. Wormwood restrained Oona in the kelp, tying her down and gagging her so she wouldn't make unnecessary noise. Cedric's frothing at the mouth will give them away without her interference.
"First the youngest brat ventures to the depths," In his eyes was a fire locked to Lydia, "Now the eldest one has discovered a means to journey down here too?!" The ocean was becoming severely crowded. He should have known they'd find a means to get in his way. "I don't know how these princesses performed complex magic, but they won't deter me from getting the comb!"
"PRINCESSES!" An older voice howled. Cedric growled at the arrival of yet another eyesore. He shot his glare from where the voice called. He was hurtled into dumbstruck shock. The person approaching...wasn't a person at all.
"What...is...this?"
xxx
"PRINCESSES!" Ubos wailed. Sofia and Lydia had to catch him. He was too out of breath to stop himself. "Where...is...the Mermaid...girl?"
"We lost her in the kelp forest." Lydia regretfully informed him. That sea monster is slipperier than she gave it credit for.
"The sea monster has her! I just know it!" Sofia swam in circles. She searched in vain for Oona or the sea monster in the thick kelp forest. "We have to do something!" Sofia darted off to continue the search.
"Sofia! Calm down! Take a breath!" Lydia stopped her, holding her by the shoulders.
"I can't! I have to find, Oona!"
"Princess, listen to me!" Ubos roared. She stopped thrashing. "Swimming blindly throughout the ocean will only waste time! Even if you found them, how on earth are you doing to rescue Oona? The monster knows magic!"
"Magic?" She glanced to Lydia.
"Yes. And I'm not too experienced with water or ice based magic." Merryweather assumes it has to do with her fiery personality.
"And it shames me to say," Ubos reluctantly started, "But there isn't time to properly instruct you on effective aquatic crafts, Lydia."
"But...Oona…" Sofia's eyes glossed. Lydia understood her frustration. She wanted to scour the ocean too. But neither of them knew where to start looking for a sea monster in the cove.
"We'll find her, Sofia. But we need help." Lydia titled her head up, really needing Sofia to focus. "Now think. Is there anyone who can help us find her?"
"HER MOM! Queen Emmaline! Come on," Sofia cupped Lydia's hands, dragging her along, "Their palace is at the bottom of the cove!"
"Okay! We can swap stories on the way!" Lydia and Ubos followed Sofia. The trio prayed they arrived in time to be of help to Oona.
xxx
Once the trio cleared the ridge, well out of sight, Cedric emerged in shock from the forest. He wasn't sure why, but he was shaking like a leaf. Mouth and eyes falling wider. Half his spirit sapped watching a floating, talking, water resistant book travel with Sofia and Lydia. In the back of his mind, he was 100% certain that book wasn't affiliated with the younger princess. There's no way. There's no reason for her to have it.
"That book…" He recognized that book. The color, the wear and tear, the embroidery. "That's the same spellbook Lydia clings to her hip!" He cried, trapped in a spiral of disbelief. Cedric has seen Lydia with that very same book for weeks now. It is rare that she travels anywhere without it. Lyndor and this trip are perfect examples. There's no mistaking it. And now he understands why. 'There isn't time to properly instruct you!' That's what the book said. It all started to add up. That book is the source behind their aquatic transformations. THAT BOOK is the reason Lydia's magic is growing stronger every week. And why she is a constant thorn in his side. "Oh, Princess Lydia," Magic seeped from his body. A malevolent grin illuminated in the dark, "What a deceitful sorceress you've become."
To be continued.
Sorry, guys. She's not a mermaid. Inspiration came from the Evil Manta from the Little Mermaid TV Series. :)