Chapter 24: Clip
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I finally saw the live-action Little Mermaid hoping to get some ideas and I gotta say I was surprised to see Jodi Benson the original Ariel was also involved in it. I enjoyed that little cameo and the music was pretty enjoyable. I'm also thrilled to say this story has over 100,000 views! Thank you all for your support. Please Review and Enjoy.
We find ourselves at a Beauty Salon, as Leo, Ruby, and Stitch lead Alana and Ariel inside.
"So let me get this straight, this whole place is dedicated to beauty treatments?" Alana asks.
"Yep and since you girls and Stitch are trying to learn more about humans. This seemed like a good spot." Leo said.
"This is your kind of place." Ariel giggles.
"Amazing. I have to know all the treatments here." Alana said eagerly.
"Well this is the first one," Ruby said gesturing to mud baths. "I don't really get why people choose to bathe in the mud like pigs but apparently it's good for your skin."
"You don't say?" Alana said.
Dipping her hand in it, she feels the new sensation.
Walking over, Stitch was equally curious. But instead, he tasted the mud.
Grossed out Stitch spits the mud covering the 4 humans.
"Ugh! This is not what I meant when I wanted to try it!" Alana said throwing it off and hitting Ruby.
"Hey!" Snapping Ruby throws mud at Stitch but he runs around causing Leo and Ariel to get hit instead.
"Oh you are so in for it now!" Leo said as he and Ariel grabbed some and soon a mud fight erupted and everyone else got hit.
"You two are going to be in so much trouble!" Ariel said throwing a ball of mud but it ended up hitting a hairstylist.
"Ugh! Look at all this mess!" She said walking over.
"Uh yeah, it's covered in hair. You should really do something about that." Ruby said trying to change the subject.
"Not the hair! The mud!" She snaps in anger.
Narrowing his eyes, Stitch threw mud in her face making the girls cringe.
"You know on second thought, that makeover can wait," Alana said,
Soon the 5 of them were being forced out of the building.
"And stay out!" The stylist yells.
"Stitch what were you thinking?" Ariel scolds.
"You can't just throw mud at whoever you want. Especially when that person has the power to kick us out." Leo said.
"I can't believe she made us clean up all that mud," Ruby said.
"And I was so looking forward to that makeover." Alana groans.
Suddenly they heard the sounds of screaming.
Looking around they saw a small hairy experiment with a pink bow on its head and razor-sharp claws for hands appeared.
"That thing jumped on my head and ate all my hair!" A man panics.
"It what?!" Alana panics.
"Cool. It's like a mutant hairball." Ruby said.
"Naga. Cousin." Stitch corrects.
"Oh…well still kinda cool," Ruby admits.
"Come on! We need to catch it!" Leo said running after it with Ariel, Ruby, and Stitch right behind him.
"Uh you guys go do that. I'm just gonna stay here, where my hair is safe." Alana said.
Racing into the building the sounds of crashing and screaming echoed from inside before the experiment ran out to the opposite end with Leo, Ariel, Ruby, and Stitch right behind it.
As the experiment ran behind a sign for cover, Ariel moved in and shoved it into a large box while Stitch held it tight.
"Ha! Gotcha!" She grins.
"Whoa, good moves," Ruby said.
"Pretty fast thinking back there," Leo said.
"Don't suppose I can get a reward for that?" Ariel giggles.
"Hmm maybe later." Leo chuckles as Alana walks over.
"Is it in there?" Alana asks nervously.
Peeking inside, Ruby saw it.
"Wow, you look like a hairball, you eat hair and you seem to be made of hair. What should we call it?" Ruby asks.
"Hairy." Stitch guesses.
"A goner." Alana declares.
"Hmm, how about Clip?" Leo suggests.
"Clip? I like it." Ruby said.
"Why are you naming it?! Ruby that thing should be destroyed!" Alana said hiding behind Ariel.
"What? No. We're gonna take Clip to Leo and Jumba." Ruby said.
"Ruby I am the oldest one here and I say that thing needs to be removed," Alana said.
"You're not the boss of me," Ruby said.
"No? Well, I know who is." Alana said as they went back to the house.
Little did they know that Gantu came out from hiding to see they had already captured the experiment.
"Blitzsnak. The human family and the abomination got the experiment first." He said before chuckling. "Although I do like how they always come up with names for them."
However, this amusing moment ended the second his phone began to ring.
"Gantu, did I actually hear you express amusement at losing another experiment?!" Hamsterviel's voice echoed.
Picking up, Gantu answered it. "Dr. Hamserviel? Uh how long have you been listening?"
"Oh long enough to regret laying my rodent retinas on you, you Feckless Fish Face!" Hamsterviel mocks.
"Uh…" Gantu pauses unsure what feckless meant.
"Stop wondering what "Feckless" means and get that experiment now!" Hamsteriviel orders hanging up.
"I'll show him who's feckless." Gantu growls.
At the house, they brought the experiment to Jumba and his reaction was the same as Alana's.
"Keep that thing away from me!" Jumba said hiding behind Leo.
"I told you, Ruby! That thing needs to be destroyed!" Alana said hiding behind Ariel.
"This was the whole walk back," Ariel said as Leo peeked inside at the experiment.
"So Jumba any idea what it is?" Leo asks.
"How could I not?! It's Experiment #177, and is very dangerous." Jumba said.
"It doesn't look dangerous. Not compared to the other ones we've seen at least." Ariel said.
"Ah, but looks can be deceiving. You see it was many years ago when my head was overflowing with evil ideas and healthy luxuriant hair follicles. I had devised Experiment 177, the Uburnium Eater." Jumba starts.
"Uburnium?" Ruby asks.
"Uburnium is the most powerful and economical fuel source in all of the universe. My Ubernium Eater would spark an insurmountable fuel price." Jumba cackles.
"I know I'm new to the surface world but I'm pretty sure hair isn't fuel," Ariel said.
"Unfortunately, in the language of Kweltiquan, word for "Uburnium" is the same as the word for "hair". I did not realize mistake until... too late! I had accidentally created Hair Eater." Jumba declares. "And once I did my beautiful hair was gone."
"Wow that's funn—" Before Ruby could finish Leo cleared his throat stopping her. "I mean that's awful."
"Yes, awful and every day it has made me full of anger." Jumba declares.
"Ah ha! I knew there was a reason you're such a grumpy Gus." Pleakley said as he and Red entered the room.
"There are several studies that show hair loss and anger are linked," Red said.
"We just need to brighten up your mood," Pleakley said.
"Good idea. Let's begin by disassembling 177." Jumba suggests.
"I second that!" Alana raised her hand.
"Down girl," Leo said putting her hand down.
"It's not Clip's fault she eats hair," Ruby said.
"It kinda is actually since that's what Jumba made her to do." Red points out.
"Well she can cut hair, maybe there's a way we can have her do that, but not make people bald," Ariel suggests.
"Ooh good idea Ariel. We can take her to a salon, those people cut hair all the time." Ruby said.
"Still maybe Stitch and I should go with you to make sure nothing crazy happens," Leo said.
"Uh Leo actually I was hoping you could help me with something today," Ariel said nervously.
"What is it?" Leo asks.
"Can we talk about it in private?" Ariel asks not wanting the others to know.
"Uh I guess. Alana, will you go with them?" Leo asked but saw she was holding a plasma gun and immediately turned to Stitch. "Stitch can I trust you to keep an eye on Clip?"
"You got it, Leo." Stitch smiles giving him the thumbs up.
As Ruby and Stitch went off and Alana, Jumba, Pleakley, and Red went about their business Ariel led Leo to his room and closed the door.
"So what was it you wanted to ask me?" Leo asks.
"Leo I uh…I want you to teach me how to swim." Ariel declares surprising him.
"Teach you to swim but you're a mermaid. You already know how to swim." Leo points out.
"Yeah with my fins, but I don't know how to swim with these," Ariel said holding up one of her legs to show her feet.
"Wait are you serious?" Leo asks not expecting this. "But what about when Ursula took me out to sea?"
"I had Attina and Flounder help carry me to the boat," Ariel admits.
Unable to look at him, Ariel jumps on his bed to cover her face with a pillow she is so embarrassed.
"You must think I'm so pathetic." Ariel whimpers.
"Hey, don't be like that," Leo said sitting next to her. "Believe it or not quite a few humans don't know how to swim."
"You're just saying that to make me feel better," Ariel mumbles.
"No I'm not. Swimming may be difficult for some but you have a headstart since you spent your whole life underwater. I'll teach you, Ariel." Leo offers.
Lifting her head up, she looks at him. "Really?"
"I mean I did teach Ruby how to swim so I've done this before. Besides you always said you wanted us to go swimming together." Leo smiles.
"Well when I said it, I meant when we were using Mom's mirror but this works too." Ariel giggles.
"By the time I'm done, we can do both." Leo chuckles.
"I'll hold you to that," Ariel said leaning in and giving him a kiss on the cheeks. "Thank you."
"What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't help you?" Leo blushes.
"Then we better get changed," Ariel said as she went to get ready for her first lesson.
Back at the salon, we see Stich and Ruby carrying the still-trapped Clip inside.
"Leo suggested that we find someplace you could be useful. And this place is full of hair." Ruby said. "And who knows maybe that Salon lady will be nicer."
From the front, Myrtle and her friends Yuki, Teresa, and Elena walked out much to Ruby's dismay.
"Oh no." Ruby cringed.
Quickly putting the box down, Ruby sat on it.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Ruby. I didn't know you got your haircut here." Myrtle said.
"I don't," Ruby said.
"Of course, you don't. They'd never let you in with that mess." Myrtle said.
"Hey, I like my hair. And Alana and Attina do a great job with it." Ruby said.
"That's what people who can never experience the good stuff always say." Myrtle mocks stroking her hair as if it was better. "Why don't you try this? You need it more than I do." Reaching into her bag she hands Ruby a bottle.
"Hair conditioner for wild and unruly hair?" Ruby read aloud before growling.
"It's also scented to wash out the smell of the nasty fish you live with," Myrtle adds.
"Hey!" Ruby snaps.
"Don't be jealous. Not everyone can have perfect hair like me. Especially not you." Myrtle said.
"Yeah!" The three girls agreed before they all walked away laughing.
"You think your hair is so perfect huh?" Ruby growls before looking at the box holding the hair-eating experiment. "We'll see who's laughing by tomorrow."
Meanwhile, at a small pool, Ariel and Leo were in their swimsuits.
"So this is where humans go to swim?" Ariel asks.
"When they're not at the beach. I figured we could start small and then we can work our way up to the ocean." Leo suggests putting down a towel and towards the steps. "Come on in, the water's fine."
Not needing to be told twice Ariel joined him in the shallow end.
"Alright normally for swimming lessons we start by just having you put your face underwater but you've done that your whole life," Leo said.
Smirking Ariel took a deep breath and dunked her head underwater to prove his point.
Dunking his under, Leo gave her a thumbs up to show she was good for this part.
Resurfacing both of them take a deep breath.
"I miss being able to breathe underwater," Ariel said.
"Yeah another thing you'll have to get used to if you want to swim like a human," Leo said.
"How do you do it?" Ariel asks.
"When you're a mermaid you just need to use your fins and you're pretty much set. Us humans we have to use our arms and legs to swim through the water." Leo said.
First Leo held her hands as she practiced kicking through the water.
"That's it. Just keep going." Leo instructs.
Afterward, he showed her strokes.
"Now you're gonna reach up and push your hand through the water. Like you're doing a little dive with your hands." Leo instructs.
As Ariel copies him, she is starting to get the hang of it.
"Now I want you to use what I taught you to try and swim to the other end of the pool and touch the wall." Leo said.
Taking a deep breath Ariel dives into the water and starts swimming.
As she swam through the water, Ariel felt at home. Sure she didn't have her fins but she did enjoy swimming this way too.
Making it all the way to the other end, Ariel touched the wall.
"I did it. Leo I did it." Ariel smiles. As she turned around expecting praise, she saw Leo was gone. "Leo? Leo?"
Suddenly something grabbed her by the legs screaming Ariel was yanked down under the surface.
A few seconds later, Leo resurfaced and burst out laughing revealing him to be the attacker.
"Not funny," Ariel said resurfacing next to him with wet hair covering her whole face but that just made Leo laugh more.
"I got you admit it," Leo smirks.
Parting her hair, Ariel giggles softly.
"But seriously good job. You're a fast learner." Leo said.
"Well I am a mermaid after all," Ariel said.
"So do you want to learn some more strokes?" Leo asks.
"Absolutely, but first…this," Ariel said before splashing Leo in the face.
"Hey!" Leo said as Ariel burst into laughter.
"Now that is funny." She points.
"Oh it's on," Leo said.
As the two engaged in a splash fight they laughed and smiled enjoying their time together.
However, while one duo was having the time of their lives, another duo was up to some sneaky business.
At Myrtle's house, we see Ruby and Stitch sneaking around back.
"Alright Stitch, is Myrtle in her room?" Ruby asks.
As his eyes glowed green, Stitch looked into the room to see no one was in there.
Running to the window, Ruby has Stitch open it up before helping her.
Climbing into Myrtle's room, Ruby and Stitch looked around to see the entire room had shelves filled with dolls.
"And she has the nerve the call me weird?" Ruby cringed.
"Achi Kaba." Stitch insists.
Making her way to the bed, Ruby opens the box letting out Clip. "We'll get you to your new home tomorrow Clip and Leo will never be the wiser. So consider this your last free night. And enjoy the very expensive hairdo." Ruby smirks putting Clip under Myrtle's pillow.
Suddenly Stitch's ears perked up hearing someone coming.
"Eeek Ruby!" Stitch said running to the door only for it to open revealing a woman with hair like Myrtle's and matching glasses.
"Uh hi Mrs. Edmonds," Ruby said nervously. "I'm Myrtle's friend Ruby and this is my dog Stitch."
"Oh yes, Myrtle's weird friend from Hula School. And let me guess that's your mutant dog from outer space?" She asks making Ruby gulp but to her surprise, Mrs. Edmonds just laughs. "I'm just kidding. I know a dog when I see one."
Walking over, she pets Stitch on his head calming him down.
"I suppose I should ask what you're doing here." She insists.
"Oh I uh ran into Myrtle earlier and she wanted me to drop this off," Ruby said holding up the box. "She didn't want to lose it before she got home and offered to bring it back for her."
"Aww. She is so lucky to have a sweet friend like you." Mrs. Edmonds smiles.
"Thanks, but I better get going. Nice meeting you." Ruby said as she and Stitch walked out the front.
That night, Leo was doing a final walk-through of the house when he heard a familiar enchanting humming.
Following the noise, he saw Ariel out on the balcony looking out at the sea.
"You miss it?" Leo asks getting her attention. "You miss the sea?"
"Yeah, a little. I'll admit I love being human but part of me wants to go back there." Ariel said.
"Well, good thing I have the mirror. If you want to go you can." Leo offers.
"Thank you, but I want you to come with me," Ariel said.
"You do?" Leo said not expecting that.
"Leo you've shown me so many amazing this up here, and I want to share the amazing things where I'm from," Ariel said.
"Ariel, I-I don't know," Leo said nervously.
"Come on. I promise we'll have fun." Ariel said taking his hands. "Please."
"Oh…alright. I'll give it a try." Leo sighs in defeat.
Smiling Ariel pulls Leo into a kiss on the lips and all his nervousness goes away.
Meanwhile, at Myrtle's house, we see Clip cutting the hair off one of Myrtle's dolls but when she tries to eat it she spit it out in disgust when she realizes it wasn't real hair.
Behind her, the window opens revealing Gantu's large hand.
"Now, now. Let's not make this difficult." Gantu said about to grab her but Clip jumped out of the way. "Hey stop that! Calm down!"
"What the dickens is going on in here?" Mrs. Edmonds asks opening the door and screams at the sight of Gantu.
Using this chance, Clip rushed in and cut off all of her hair before eating it leaving the poor woman completely bald.
Tucking itself into a hairball, Clip rolls away causing Mrs. Edmonds to scream again before fainting on the spot.
"You're fast for a furball but I'm faster!" Gantu said chasing after it.
Rolling onto a bus, Clip gets in just as the door closes and cuts the hair of all the passengers inside.
"Curse you!" Gantu yells just as the bus takes off.
Laughing at his misfortune, Clip waves goodbye.
"Hairball! I am Gantu! Captain…I mean former Captain of the Galactic Alliance. Conqueror of the Peskimermish Milita, and Vanguard Commander of the Black Hole Ops. You will not escape me!" Gantu vows before noticing 3 little kids staring up at him. "Uh I mean I uh missed my bus."
Screaming in fear the three kids ran as fast as they could.
The next morning, Ruby was on her way to Hula class with Stitch at her side.
Needless to say both were eager to see a bald Myrtle. But to her horror, Myrtle never came home last night. She had spent the night sleeping over at Theresa's.
At Leo's house, Alana was watching Pleakley trying to give Jumba a new look with a puffy rainbow wig.
"I don't think that's your color Jumba." She giggles when the door opens revealing Ariel and Leo who are still wet from another swimming lesson.
"Hey Jumba you going to a football game?" Leo jokes.
"I'm trying new look. You like?" Jumba asks.
"Uh…" Leo, Ariel, and Alana cringe unsure how to answer that when Ruby and Stitch come running in.
"We have a problem! It's Clip!" Ruby said making Alana yelp.
"Where?! Don't let it eat my hair!" Alana said hiding behind Leo.
"Did the hair salon not work out? I thought that was perfect for her." Leo asks.
"Well uh…funny story. We never made it to the Salon. Myrtle insulted me and so I put Clip in her house so she would eat Myrtle's hair and I could get back at her, but instead, she ate her mom's hair and escaped." Ruby admits.
"Oh that poor woman." Alana said feeling sorry for her.
"Ruby how could you do such a thing?" Leo asks.
"But Myrtle needed to be punished. She deserved it." Ruby defends making Leo facepalm.
"Of course she does, she always deserves it!" Leo snaps surprising them.
"Wait what?" Ruby said not expecting this.
"I'm not an idiot, Ruby. You think I don't know that little brat is the absolute worst? Every day she bullies and makes fun of you, our ohana, the girls, even the Marine Center and all the fish inside it. And every time I want to throw that girl in the garbage, smash her glasses, and a million other things to get back at her, but I don't because I'm not gonna lower myself to her level to get back at her. And neither should you." Leo said.
"I'm not a fan of her either," Ariel adds.
"And not to mention her friends." Alana mumbles.
"Oh please, they're brainless henchmen who do whatever she tells them," Leo said.
Hearing this Ruby gave her brother a big hug. "I love you so much right now."
"I love you too," Leo smirks. "But you're still apologizing to her mom for this."
"Fine." Ruby sighs before noticing Jumba. "You are not pulling off that wig Jumba."
"Ikka patooka." Stitch spits in agreement.
"I knew it!" Jumba said throwing it off in frustration.
"Okay, I read on the Intergalactic net that hair growth can be stimulated by vigorous massage." Pleakley offers.
"Jumba why are you trying to grow new hair if that thing is out there ready to make you bald again? If you're bald it'll leave alone." Ariel said.
"I am not bald. I have 3 luxuriant beautiful hairs." Jumba said but Stitch just burst into laughter.
"Bad dog," Leo growls making him stop. "What about you Alana? Of all the experiments why is this one the first one you think should be destroyed?"
"Because I don't want it to ruin my hair," Alana said.
"I know you care about how you look but is it really that important?" Leo asks.
"Have 6 more siblings and then talk to me," Alana said getting Ariel's attention.
"Alana?" Ariel said walking over.
"Look I don't want to get into a whole thing, but when you have a big family you have to focus on something to make you stand out," Alana said.
"And you thought if you made yourself the pretty sister that would help you stand out?" Leo assumes.
"Don't make fun of me," Alana said.
"I'm not, but Alana when you girls up to live with us you promised to help us capture the experiment. We need all hands on deck for this. And since the other sisters aren't here, you gotta step up. That goes for you too Jumba." Leo said pointing at them.
Giving into the pressure both sigh.
"Fine. We'll help." They said at the same time.
"Wow when Leo steps up to take control he is something else," Pleakley said.
"Yeah, he's cute that way." Ariel sighs.
Going to Myrtle's house, they stop in front of the door.
"Okay, we need to surprise 177. Leonard and I will take the front way the rest of you go in the back." Jumba suggests.
Inside Mrs. Edmonds was vacuuming the rugs when suddenly Jumba kicked open the door.
"Ha! Gotcha you little hairball!" Jumba said.
Seeing them, Mrs. Edmonds screams but when everyone else sees how she looked with her bald head they scream too.
After a few minutes, they stopped screaming and sat down.
"Mrs. Edmonds we are so sorry for scaring you like that." Leo apologizes.
"Oh it's no trouble. It was quite exhilarating actually in a frightening I don't know what's happening sort of way." She said.
"Are we sure this is that mean girl's mom?" Alana whispers.
"How can a nice, understanding woman like that give birth to a monster like Myrtle?" Ariel whispers back but Leo shushes them.
"We're also really sorry about your hair." Ruby apologizes.
"Oh don't be. I love it. If you ever find that little furball you're looking for I'd like to thank it." Mrs. Edmonds said.
"But it ate all your hair," Ariel said confused.
"Oh I don't mind. Now I actually feel like the real me." Mrs. Edmonds said.
"But do you know how long it'll take you to regrow it?" Alana asks.
"Yeah, aren't you afraid of getting teased?" Ruby asks.
"Oh girls, a haircut doesn't make you who you are. You make a haircut what it is." Mrs. Edmonds said.
"I never thought of it like that before," Ruby said.
"As long as you're happy with yourself that's all that matters." Mrs. Edmonds said.
"I guess, that's true." Alana said thinking about it. "I just assumed it was a monster."
"A monster? Oh sweetie you have nothing to be scared of. If you ask me you're beautiful as you are. And I bet quite a few people in your life would agree to." Mrs. Edmonds said.
Turning around Alana glanced at them and they had welcoming looks.
"I wish I could be as happy as you two. Especially with my nearly bald head." Jumba said.
"Why? You have a beautifully shaped head." Mrs. Edmonds compliments.
"Oh you think so?" Jumba smiles.
"Yes, those 3 hairs suit you beautifully. You are very handsome." She nods.
"Evil Genius Jumba, handsome? This makes me happy. I feel happy." Jumba realized. "My head is feeling unclenched."
And almost instantly an afro of black hair shot out of Jumba's head surprising everyone.
"You could that this whole time?" Leo said amazed.
"Lucky." Alana said jealous.
"My hair. It has returned. I HAVE HAIR!" Jumba declares at the top of his lungs.
"We're right here." Alana cringed.
"Inside voice Uncle Jumba." Leo cringed.
After saying goodbye to Mrs. Edmonds, the 6 of them went in search of Clip.
"Myrtle's mom was so helpful. Are we sure Myrtle wasn't adopted?" Alana asks.
"Yeah do you think she used to be like Myrtle and someone put a spell on her mom to make her act the opposite of her daughter?" Ariel guesses.
"We've thought about it, but there's no clear. It's a mystery Ariel. Just let it go." Leo suggests.
"I can't. It just doesn't make sense." Ariel said when Jumba's device beeped.
"My readings indicate Experiment 177 came through here. We are hot on trail." Jumba said looking at a device.
"Does that mean it's close?" Ruby asks.
"No." Jumba said coming to a stop. "Means it's time for hair regimen."
"Come again?" Leo said not sure if he heard him right.
"Brushing to keep it healthy, extra UV protection to prevent sun damage, lotion for scalp and roots, yumectin to keep curls bouncy," Jumba said.
"Jumba we're on the lookout for a runaway experiment," Ariel said.
"Now is not the time to be obsessing over your hair," Alana said before realizing what she said. "I can't believe I just said that."
"Me neither," Ariel admits when a squirrel runs by with all its hair gone.
"Ikita!" Stitch points.
"A naked squirrel?" Ruby said not sure if she saw that right.
"We must be close," Leo said.
Looking down the path they saw Gantu charging towards them with a plasma gun in his hands.
"Gantu!" Gasping Leo grabbed the Plasma gun, Ariel held out her mom's mirror, Jumba, and Alana grabbed hair brushes, and Stitch growled ready to fight but to their surprise, Gantu ran right past them.
"Run! Run! Run!" Gantu yells.
"Run from what?" Alana asks.
Turning around all of them gasped.
"I'm gonna guess from that!" Leo gasps.
"Whoa. Clip got big." Ruby gasped seeing Clip in her hairball form but she was now the size of a boulder.
"You are not taking my hair you eater of hair!" Jumba said as Stitch threw him out of the way.
Grabbing Ariel and Alana's hands, Leo yanked them to safety.
As Clip was about to run over Ruby, Stitch pushed her out of the way making him get rolled over instead.
"My hair? Is it alright?" Jumba panics. "Oh, it's alright."
"Oh geez is that how I sound?" Alana cringed.
"Well not as bad." Ariel shrugs.
"Good dog Stitch. Everyone's okay." Stitch said when Ruby noticed something.
"Well almost everyone." She points.
Looking down at Stitch's tail we see Clip had eaten all the hair around his rear area.
"Haka Taba!" Stitch panics covering his rear.
"Ruby do you still have your hula skirt?" Leo asks.
Taking it out of her bag, she wraps it around Stitch's waist.
"Ha! Now who is the Ikka Patooka?" Jumba mocks.
Growling in anger, Stitch leaps out and bites Jumba on the butt in payback.
"Why you!" Jumba said bonking him on the head.
Growling Stitch was about to retaliate when Leo got in between them.
"Hey that's enough!" Leo said pushing them back. "You each got one!"
As Clip was closing in on Gantu, the giant man tripped on a root and fell down a hill where a luau was going on.
"And now is the time we teach you how to dance the traditional Hawaiian Hula. Any volunteers?" A man calls out when Gantu falls through the roof and lands on stage. "We have a volunteer."
"Hey it's that guy who missed the bus." One of those kids from last night noticed.
"Make him do the fire dance." Another calls out.
"No wait I have…" Realizing he had enough Gantu sighs. "Oh Blitzsnak." Standing up Gantu was forced to do the hula.
Back on top of the hill, Leo, Ruby, Ariel, Alana, Stitch, and Jumba were still on the lookout for Clip.
"Any sign of her?" Ruby calls out.
"Nothing yet," Alana said.
"Oh this is all my fault. Who knew life would be full of hard lessons? Like never use a hair-eating monster on someone when you're unhappy with yourself." Ruby groans.
"I could have told you that." Leo crosses his arms.
"Easy for you to say. I bet you've never done something this stupid." Ruby said.
"I once called the King of the Sea a Blobfish and told him to shut up while I verbally bashed him on being a terrible father. Literally exposed that I was a human to a race of mermaids who until a few months ago hated our species. And snuck out several times to a Speakeasy Music Club to hang out with mermaids. How's that for stupid?" Leo counters.
"You called King Triton a Blobfish?" Ruby said in disbelief. "The King of the Sea? Mr. Gleaming Pitchfork who can blow you to smithereens in 5 seconds?"
"When did that happen?" Ariel said hearing this for the first time.
"Shortly after you broke him out of jail. He went right up to daddy and told him off." Alana said.
"I gotta tell Flounder and Sebastian. They'll want to hear this too." Ariel giggles.
"Eh, all this stress is not good for my hair." Jumba groans. "Is getting split ends. Getting wild and unruly."
"Here try this." Reaching into her bag, Ruby pulls out the bottle of hair lotion Myrtle gave her.
"What's that?" Ariel asks.
"Myrtle gave it to me. For taming wild and unruly hair." Ruby read before they all realized something.
"Wait wild and unruly? Like Clip." Ariel said.
"Great, but we have no idea where she went," Alana said.
"Let's think logically. If I were a hair-eating experiment I would try to find a place that has more hair than ever having seen in my whole life." Jumba said.
Pausing all of them could only think of one place.
At the Spa and Salon, all the customers were running out in fear.
"Hello, police! No, it's not a burglary. It's not a fire either. I don't know what this is! A bad hair day?" The Hair stylist said but the police hung up. "Help!"
As if on cue, the experiment-catching team ran in.
"I told you this Salon was the best place for Clip," Leo said.
"Quick grab every hair care product you can find!" Jumba said.
"With pleasure!" Alana said as they ran to the shelves and grabbed a bottle of their own.
As Clip came rolling towards them they all blasted Clip covering it head to toe with lotion, shampoo, and conditioner.
And just like that the wild unruly hairball shrunk down back to normal size.
"Gotcha," Alana said picking Clip up.
"Clip you've been a bad girl," Ruby said walking over. "But I guess I'm also to blame. I shouldn't have used you to get back at Myrtle."
"So are we all good? No more with the hair destruction?" Jumba said.
"Nope. All that conditioner fixed her right up." Alana said.
"Now we just need to find someplace for her to call home," Ariel said.
"Hey, I need a due." A surfer dude said walking in. "Something that captures the real me."
Getting an idea, Clip broke free from Alana and started cutting the man's hair until it was short and spiky instead of long.
"Whoa, dude. Now this is the real me." He smiles.
"Hmm, this gives me an idea," Leo said.
Soon Clip was working at the salon helping everyone find their true hairdo.
"I'm next," Alana said sitting down on the chair.
"You sure Alana?" Ariel asks.
"Yeah I think it's time I find something that's really me," Alana said.
As Clip got to work she cut and trimmed Alana's hair so instead of frills and tightened up it was loosened and cut so it dropped down behind her neck.
"What do you think?" Alana asks.
"Well even though you don't need it. You look very beautiful." Leo said making her giggle and blush softly.
"Clip. I think you and I are going to be good friends." Alana said petting her.
"I'm next," Jumba said surprising everyone.
"You want to give up the afro? But you just got it back." Ruby asks.
"Ehh. Hairdo isn't really me. It screams 70's funk review, not evil genius." Jumba admits.
As Clip got to work everyone watched as Clip cut Jumba's hair back to his normal 3 hairs.
Cringing in fear everyone feared the worst but Jumba just smiled.
"I am feeling like me again. Thank you 177." Jumba laughs.
Walking over to the counter, Leo talked to the hairstylist.
"We're sorry about earlier but I think your Salon might be the best place for Clip. Assuming you don't mind keeping an eye on her." Leo said.
"Are you kidding? Business is booming. I'll make sure she's right at home." The stylist smiles. "Can I offer you a free do?"
"Thanks but I'm good. Although my friend Alana might be stopping by here again. She loves this place."
"Hey Ariel what do you say we go try those spa sessions? I hear their seaweed wrap and mudbaths are pretty good." Alana said pulling Ariel down the hall.
"Alana wait. Slow down." Ariel said before the two sisters had their own spa day.
"Those girls." Leo chuckles.
They got the experiment back and they didn't have to worry about Gantu because as it turns out that the little Hula break was just what he needed to escape the royal pain that is Hamsterviel.