Chapter 21: Attack at the Marina
Yet another beautiful day blessed Seahaven. The musical singing of birds and the genially bright mood of the people complimented the cheery blue sky. The town was abuzz as residents and visitors took in the joyously warm weather, turning the streets into a dynamic mosaic of activity. Peddler's advertised their wares as shoppers browsed windows and stalls or went into stores, exploring or already knowing what they needed. It was an amazingly organized chaos. Kind words, laughter, and pleasantry were as bountiful as bees in a spring meadow.
Melody, Lara, Jenni, and Aquata walked down one of the many cobblestone streets on their way to the marina, though technically the dun mare Melody rode was doing the walking for her. The horse's black tail and mane shone like black marble, her hooves clopping against the stones at an easy gait. Melody wore a light-yellow dress, her hair tied back as usual.
Lara walked by the mare's shoulder. Once again –to Melody's embarrassment and Grimsby's annoyance–she opted for her usual skin baring attire. She kept the same skin baring red halter top and gray pants as earlier, now accompanied by the shemagh around her neck and her goggles as a hair band. The sword hung at her hip from her leather belt, the metal clinking quietly with each step. Her piercings glinted in the sunlight, eyes bright and a slight smile on her lips.
Beside her walked Aquata, dressed in blue yet again. Being the more athletically capable of her sisters, her ability to walk was such that she insisted on joining Melody and Lara down to the marina so she could see the town. Her head spun about as she took it all in. Already she had bumped into Lara four times and tripped once when she tried to walk backwards while watching a man pull a cart of chickens. Lara would just laugh it off, her bright mood unfazed by the princess' awe-induced clumsiness. On Lara's other side was Jenni, wearing a brand-new green dress free of patches or tears. She gained a healthier appearance after three weeks of being able to eat her fill, and it showed in her vigor and the shine in her eyes and hair. She held onto Lara's hand, her other holding tight to the bokken as the wooden tip dragged along the ground.
It was ironic that Melody chose to wear such a sunny dress that day, for her mood was hardly bright. Two things dampened her spirits. The first were her musings from that morning. The second and more immediate reason was the greetings they were receiving from the townsfolk. Not that there was anything wrong with it. Melody liked it when the people gave her friendly smiles, polite bows, and warm greetings. It also helped that they would move out of the road when they saw her, making travel easier. She would return a smile and a practiced wave with the odd "hello" here and there, although it was slightly disingenuous due to the depressive weight in her heart. But this was not what dampened her mood. The true reason was the other person they were saying hello to, and with much more gusto.
"Lara! Stop by for a drink when you've got time! On the house!"
"Hey, Lara! When're we gonna see your pretty face back at the Trove?"
"Good day to ye, lassie! Lookin' sharp as ever I see!"
"Hi Lara! Great to see you again!"
"Lara! Hi!"
Lara would simply return the greetings in her own fashion, as though she had known these people all her life. Excited chatter matched the greetings, as though people were sighting some mythical creature of good fortune.
"Do you know who that is? That's Lara Anclagon!"
"You mean the girl who won the tournament this year!?"
"She's the one who beat Lord Avitas!"
"I hear she wiped the floor with him! Sent the grimy maggot to the hospital on a stretcher!"
"I would've paid to see that!"
"I did pay to see it! Worth every coin!"
"About time someone put that mongrel in his place!"
"She's so young!"
"I hear she's the princess' bodyguard now!"
"She is? I pity the fool that tries to get past her!"
"It could be my imagination, Lara," commented Aquata as Lara returned a wave to a group of sailors. "But I think you've become a celebrity."
The brunette shrugged nonchalantly, grinning in that lopsided way only she could. "What can I say? I've got a way with people."
Aquata giggled at Lara's grin, finding her ability to contort one side of her mouth humorous. Lara started switching the grin back and forth across her face, arching a pierced eyebrow in tandem. The facial dance earned the outright laughter from Aquata that Lara was hoping for and caused Jenni to join her. Lara swooped Jenni off the ground, the girl squealing as Lara deposited her on her shoulders with a twirl.
The leather of the reigns creaked as Melody held them tighter. This was not fair. Why was it everyone seemed to find happiness except her? Lara was smiling and laughing with almost every soul they passed greeting her with genuine joy. Meanwhile she was forced to endure day after day without word from her friends and being handled with kid gloves by everyone. That and the heartbroken weight that refused to lift itself from her.
"Hey."
A hand rested on Melody's leg. She glanced to see Lara looking up at her with concern, as though she could sense the funk she was in.
"You all right?" Lara asked.
Though Lara meant well, it only served to incite Melody's mood. She quickly jerked her leg from Lara's touch, as though her skin held the same irritating properties as poison oak.
"I'm fine," Melody said with more offense than intended.
Lara drew her hand back, looking a little hurt and mostly irritated by her rudeness. "Sorry I asked. Yeesh, talk about not being a morning person."
Melody clenched her teeth, feeling a bit guilty for her curt response. When had she become so terse and abrasive towards people? She was feeling less like herself with each passing day, as though she were changing into someone else. Who was she now, anyways? Was she the person William danced with at the party? Or someone different?
"Hey!"
A young dark-haired boy and a younger girl ran towards them, a page of parchment and a charcoal pencil clutched in the girl's hands. Melody drew her horse to a stop as the boy skidded to a halt so suddenly the girl almost ran into him as he almost ran into Lara. The pair could not have been older than nine and seven, respectively.
"You're Hood, aren't you!?" asked the boy excitedly. "I mean, Miss Anclagagon! No, I mean Anglocannon! Argh, I meant–!"
"It's Anclagon. Ankh-la-gone," said Lara, smiling in amusement. "But Lara's fine." She lifted Jenni off her shoulders, setting her down as she took a knee in front of them. "What's your name?"
"I'm Roy!" the boy said, as though ecstatic Lara would even talk to him.
Lara turned to the girl. "And what's yours?"
The girl hid behind Roy, peering shyly around his arm. Her voice was barely a whisper as she said, "Ruth."
Aquata crouched down beside Lara. "That's a pretty name," she said, smiling sweetly.
The girl blushed and retreated further behind Roy's back.
"Your sister?" asked Lara.
Roy nodded. "Uh-huh! She's just shy about meeting you. We saw your archery shots and your fight with Richard. We've wanted to meet you ever since!"
Lara grinned and turned to Jenni. "You hear that? Sounds like I've got a fan club!"
Roy was about to say something when he caught sight of Melody. His eyes widened at realizing he was in the presence of royalty. "Oh! Good morning, your highness!" he blurted, bowing to her. He prodded Ruth with his elbow, and she followed suit.
"Hello," replied Melody, giving a friendly if stiff smile and nodding in acknowledgement. In all truth, she would have preferred if he were as casual with her as with Lara. Addressing her as "your highness" sounded so distant, as though there were no chance of them having any friendly connection.
"So Roy, Ruth…what can we do for you?" asked Lara.
"Ruth wants to ask you something," said Roy. He gave the girl an encouraging nudge. "Go on. Ask her."
Ruth hesitantly emerged from behind her brother. Her eyes darted between Lara and her own shoes, hands clasped behind her back as she fidgeted side to side. "Um…I was wondering if…well, if you would…um..."
"If I would…?" pressed Lara, gesturing for her to continue.
Apparently Ruth had known what she wanted to say, but in her nervousness she ended up trying to say all of it at the same time.
"IthinkyouarereallybraveandcoolandprettyandawesomeandIwaswonderingifIcouldpleasehaveyourautographpleaseIwouldreallylikeitifyouwould!" she babbled out, thrusting the paper and charcoal stick towards Lara.
Lara and Jenni laughed loudly, both at how flushed Ruth's cheeks turned as she realized just how badly she fumbled through her words and Aquata's thoroughly puzzled face as she tried to decipher what was just said. Roy slapped a hand to his face in embarrassed disbelief. Melody stifled a giggle, the first time she came close to laughing in weeks.
"Uh…what did you say, sweetie?" asked Aquata.
"She says she wants an autogrape!" declared Jenni.
"That's autograph, Jenni," corrected Lara as she took the paper and charcoal. "And yes, you can have it."
Ruth's eyes followed Lara's hand with rapt fascination as she scrawled out a signature. Melody thought it was a rather fitting script given Lara's character–spirited, eccentric, direct, and a hint of mischief.
Lara was about to hand it back to Ruth when she stopped. "Hey, I've got an idea! Instead of just me on here, how about the princesses sign it too?"
Ruth's eyes went the biggest they had ever been. "Really!?"
Lara turned to Aquata. "If it's all right with you, that is."
"I'd be happy to!" said Aquata.
"Ooh! Ooh! Me too!" said Jenni, whipping the bokken into Lara's head with a donk noise in her excitement.
"Ow!" exclaimed Lara, rubbing the spot. "Careful with that, Jenni!"
"Sorry," said Jenni, looking down in apologetic embarrassment.
Ruth looked hopefully to Melody, eyes big and imploring. Lara looked at her as well, but her eyes held a scrutiny in them, as though she were daring Melody to say no.
"Of course," said Melody, feeling she had no choice. How was she supposed to refuse such a simple request, especially when Ruth looked ready to float right off the ground with how she lit up? She bounced on her feet excitedly as first Aquata and then Melody signed the paper, Jenni adding a small sloppy "J" to the page before Lara handed it back.
"Thank you thank you thank you!" Ruth squealed, bowing repeatedly and with such exuberance her hair flopped about like a shaken-out mop.
Lara smiled and lightly ruffled the girl's hair. "No prob–."
That was when they heard the roar.
A short while earlier...
While there were no shortages of ports within the Alliance for a seafaring vessel to choose from, three of them served as the major hubs of maritime commerce. To the north of Seahaven was Glowerhaven, a major exporter of textiles and some of the finest smithies on the western shores. On its eastern border abutting the White Iron Mountains lay Vorhaven, the principal supplier of fibers, timber, and high-quality metals to the other kingdoms. The two kingdoms were strongly interdependent, as much of Vorhaven's trade went through Glowerhaven. To the south was Strihaven, no longer part of the Alliance since the loss of their only prince to Morgana's plot. Although the kingdom's economy was based in fishing and trade, there was always a certain portion of its commerce that could not be accounted for by paper records.
Yet while these three were impressive compared to the typical fishing village's docks, none of these kingdoms could match the marvel of commerce or construction that was Seahaven's marina.
The marina consisted of twenty wide wharves jutting a full four hundred yards into the sea. The construction had been masterfully done. Each wharf was solid and wide enough to support the heavy traffic the marina experienced. Trunks of enormous old growth redwoods served as pylons, supporting thick heavy boards even after bearing the elements for decades. Each wharf was placed far enough apart that two full sized galleons could be maneuvered in and docked with room to spare for three more down the middle. Teams of rowboats crewed by strong men worked in tandem to guide ships in and out, ensuring a smooth flow of traffic in and out of port. It may not have been as active as a year ago, but anyone would struggle to imagine the waters any busier. Ships of all sizes floated on the swells, from sleek schooners to speedy clippers, and massive triple decked galleons to small dinghies. Fishermen unloaded their catch or set to work repairing nets and rigging as their captains negotiated the sale of their haul. Traders swapped their cargo for lumber, livestock, food, metals, or other goods. Stacks of crates and barrels lined the sides of the wharves, waiting for whatever vessel would take them to their ultimate destination. Men and women bustled about their business, voices mixed with the chatter of gulls, terns, cormorants, and pelicans. Horse drawn carts and ox-pulled wagons clattered over the stout boards underfoot, sending vibrations through the walkway. The embankment wall was built of stacked stones and mortar, melding with the cobblestone streets that latticed the waterfront. The water remained clear as glass, allowing people to see all the way to the bottom. Grouper, smelt, rockfish, and bass could be seen swimming through the seaweed forest, an occasional leopard shark or bat ray cruising by.
It was on one of these wharves that Ariel, Eric, and Alana currently found themselves. Ariel wore a simple green dress that matched the color of her tail, while her sister wore a similar purple one. Eric had chosen his casual white shirt and black pants with a red cummerbund. The trio watched a crew of veteran seamen unload the last of a large number of crates from a triple decked Glowerhaven military galleon. It was a massive vessel, enough to make any pirate or rogue of the high seas nervous if its sails appeared on their horizon. The men moved with strenuous but practiced effort as they maneuvered a large and heavy crate down the gangplank to a stack of similar crates.
"That's it!" shouted the captain as he followed after them. He was a man in his mid-forties dressed in a spotless red and gold uniform with a thick but well-trimmed ginger beard. A saber hung at his side and a captain's tricorn adorned his head. He carried himself like a military man, shoulders back and chin lifted proudly.
"Easy now!" he called as the men set their burden on the lip of another crate and slid it in, straining as they pushed. "Don't go dropping it! I don't want a slip up on the last one!"
"Aye-aye, cap'n *uhf* Filipe!" grunted one of the men.
"This weighs a ton!" said a red-faced sailor, sweating profusely with the effort. "I'm gonna need a tall ale after this!"
Alana leaned close to Ariel. "Ail? Is he sick?"
"No, but if he drinks enough of it he will be," said Ariel, earning a bewildered look from Alana and a smile from Eric. "I'll explain later."
"You can have that drink as soon as the last armor is unloaded, Mister Shire," said Filipe.
"That is the last of it, captain!" called a sailor from the ship's deck as the sailors finally slid the crate into place. "And the ship's ready to go anytime!"
Filipe clapped his hands to get the crew's attention. "All right lads! Get yourselves fed, rested, and be back before sundown!"
The men responded with resounding shouts of approval. Sailors began descending out of the masts while others departed for the town in search of food, drink, and merriment. Others found a spot on the ship and set to whatever they chose to occupy their time with, opting for some well-earned rest.
"And I don't want any of you coming back drunk, you hear?" warned Filipe. "I–!"
"Won't be having bad form on my ship! Not if my name's Captain Filipe Fredrick Isenbard!" came the call from all the sailors, clearly having heard it before.
"And don't you forget it!" added Filipe.
"As if you'd let us, captain!" shouted down a man in the crow's nest, earning good-natured laughter from the crew.
Eric smiled fondly. Hearing the casual yet cheekily respectful banter between captain and crew reminded him of his younger days as a prince in the Seahaven navy. That and accompany the fishing ships on their voyages, usually dragging a seasick Grimsby and ecstatic Max along for the ride. He always felt more at peace on the sea, as though he were answering its call to him. Small wonder he decided to celebrate his eighteenth birthday on its waves. He never would have imagined that fateful voyage would lead him to the woman of his dreams–or rather, the mermaid of his dreams.
"Thank you for bringing the new armor to us, captain," said Ariel.
Filipe removed his hat in respect, beard shifting with the smile underneath. "For you, milady, anything! It's the least I can do since your father saved my brother and his crew in that storm last winter."
"Captain!" The group looked to the ship and saw a gang of sailors carrying four long wooden crates down the gangplank. "Got a few more here! Has a note addressing 'em to the queen!"
Filipe slapped the hat back on his head. "Good man, Mister Swainson! I almost forgot! Bring those here!"
The men quickly maneuvered down to the wharf. Filipe directed them towards a stack of wine barrels nearby. They set the crates down and gave a quick salute before jogging after their crewmates.
"What are these?" asked Eric.
"Something King Ben had specially made for her majesty," said Filipe. He pulled a key from his jacket and removed the padlock from one of the crates, swinging the top open on its hinge.
The inside was filled with an assortment of long cylindrical rockets of various shapes, colors and sizes, each attached to a thin wooden dowel. A small thread of rope extended out the bottom of each. The burnt, mildly acrid smell of gunpowder and phosphorous wafted out of the crate.
"What are those?" asked Alana, peering curiously over Ariel's shoulder.
"Fireworks!" exclaimed Ariel, her shoulder almost knocking Alana in the chin as she bounced like an exuberant puppy.
Eric laughed at his wife's beaming smile and bright eyes as she made small excited squealing sounds. Of all the things Ariel loved about the human world, fireworks held a special place for her, and not just because they brought them together. She loved the bright, shimmering lights and dazzling displays they could create against the night sky, like stars brought down from the heavens. She could watch them for hours as they painted the dark in all the colors of the rainbow. Eric always made a point to have them present at her birthday, and sometimes just to see her smile.
Filipe smiled at the glee of the queen. "A token of goodwill from his majesty. He remembered how much you enjoyed the firework display during your last visit to Glowerhaven. He heard your sisters are staying with you and thought you would all enjoy a show or two."
"Oh, that's perfect!" said Ariel as she rifled through the crate, marveling at the variety of colors and trying to remember the display each one created. "Alana, you have to see this! There's so many!"
Unknown to Ariel and Alana, Eric and Filipe were not the only ones watching as they searched through the crate of fireworks.
Ursula observed the humanized mermaids through the magic bubble hovering above her cauldron. The cavernous underwater hollow she now called her lair was dark even for its dearth of illumination, as though Ursula's villainous nature was driving the light away.
She scowled as Ariel extracted a green firework, holding it for Alana to take. Her tentacles wrapped around the base of the cauldron, squeezing as she wished it were Ariel's neck instead. How she despised that little mermaid! How she loathed her! She was already an urchin's spine in Ursula's side when she lived under the sea. She and those pesky friends of her foiled no shortage of her schemes. Then she and that human boy became the instruments of her demise, snatching victory from her with the broken prow of a ship. It was because of them she was bound in servitude to that shadow sorcerer.
But now, after more than twenty long years, revenge would be hers. Her vendetta would be fulfilled. This time she would be the one standing when the storm settled. She would get her happy ending, and Ariel would perish along with her–.
The sound of metal being tortuously rent pulled Ursula's attention to her door. The steel plating bulged and buckled, groaning in protest to the force deforming it from the other side. Then it split down the middle, the metal folding back to leave a gaping jagged hole.
Ursula scowled when she saw who had destroyed her door. "Is that your idea of knocking, Remora?"
The gold masked witch walked through the tear, completely unfazed at being underwater. Her long blonde braid drifted behind her as the metal of the door contorted back into place, bending and twisting until no trace of the breach remained.
"I'd sooner split your head than ask your permission," said Remora as she walked to the cauldron's edge, standing across from Ursula. The light from the bubble bathed her mask in phantasmal motions of light.
"Big words for a human," said Ursula, hiding her fear of Remora behind bravado. She went over to her potions and pulled out a vial of blue fluid and a jar with an eel skull inside it. "Are they ready?"
"I've had them ready for hours," said Remora flatly, folding her arms over her chest. "They're chomping at the bit." She snorted derisively, shaking her head. "Morons, the lot of them. I could've handed them spoons and told them they were magic, and they'd think they were invincible!"
"So long as they follow the plan it doesn't matter what they think," said Ursula as she swam back. "I don't want any of them bungling this up. It's not every day I get a chance like this. Look at them! Out in the open, unarmed, and without a guard in sight! The child might as well hand herself to me on a silver platter!"
"Given your track record with this mermaid, I expect less gloating and more preparation from you," said Remora.
Ursula grinned wickedly as she pulled the topper off the vial. "Oh, I've prepared! I have something special for her regardless of how this goes. It's sure to be a…smash." She chuckled darkly, leaving her intentions to Remora's imagination. She pulled the topper off the vial and moved to pour it into the cauldron, but then she stopped.
"Well? Get on with it," growled Remora impatiently.
"I will. But before that…" Ursula set the vial on the cauldron's rim. "There's something I'm curious about."
"And what would that be?" asked Remora, her tone showing she was not interested in the slightest and annoyed by the delay.
"What's the real purpose of this plan?" asked Ursula, tracing the edge of her cauldron with a lazy finger as she sauntered around to Remora. "His shadowiness has been keeping us all hidden since my sister's failed attempt to kill Melody."
"You and your sister's," clarified Remora.
"Details, details," said Ursula, waving her hand dismissively. "Point is, he's been very cautious." She walked behind Remora. "All the spies are hiding. The raids have stopped. Even Riptide is hunting less these days. Then he cooks up this scheme out of the blue. It's all very sudden, wouldn't you say?"
Remora glanced over her shoulder at Ursula. "You got a complaint to make?"
"Oh, no! I'm all for this! But…" Ursula stopped, turning to face Remora. "I think there's something else going on. What's his goal here? What is he after?"
"None of your business," said Remora sharply.
Ursula smirked. "You know, don't you? After all, you are the Master's right hand. He must have told you something." She ran her finger up the witch's sleeve as her tentacle reached up to trace the edge of Remora's mask. "Come now, you can tell me. What's he up to? Just a little hint? Perhaps I could make it worth your–."
Ursula never saw where Remora got the sword from. Nor did she see when Remora spun and sliced off the tracing tentacle at the base. Ursula screeched in pain, shooting away from Remora. The witch snatched Ursula's neck before she could escape and drove her knee into Ursula's gut. Ursula doubled over, the water driven out of her as Remora slammed her into the floor and then stomped a foot onto her chest. It all happened so fast Ursula could not mount a response, and before she could try Remora had the tip of her sword pressed between Ursula's eyes. The tip cut her skin, allowing a trickle of black blood to leak into the water.
"Remember your place, squid bait! Or I'll paint the walls with your guts!" hissed Remora threateningly, pressing painfully down on Ursula's chest with her heel. "The Master gives the orders! I relay them! You obey! If he thought you needed to know he would've told you! Given the only thing bigger than your stupidity is your pride I can see why he didn't! So do your job and don't stick your tentacles where they don't belong…!"
Remora moved the sword to Ursula's shoulder. "Or next time you'll lose more than one!"
Ursula glared up at Remora with hatred, clutching her bleeding stump and teeth grinding as the witch moved off her. If Ariel was her most hated enemy, then Remora was rapidly becoming a close second. How a mere human became the Master's second in command, let alone so powerful was beyond her. However, Ursula knew she could not stand up to the witch, human or not. It would be tantamount to suicide to challenge Remora.
"Quit your glaring and get up before I put you down for good. Or is cutting off one limb all it takes to kill your hatred?" Remora reached for the bubble. "Should I kill Ariel myself and save you the trouble?"
That did the trick. Ursula seized Remora's arm with a pair of tentacles, preventing her from touching the bubble. "No, you don't! If anyone's going to kill that brat, it'll be me!"
Remora brushed the tentacles off and stepped back, gesturing to the bubble. "Then by all means. Prove it."
Ursula narrowed her eyes at Remora as she got up. She really hated this woman. She made a mental note to focus on killing her after Ariel was disposed of.
She looked back to the bubble. Ariel's smiling face filled the orb, her happiness only feeding Ursula's anger. She grabbed the vial of blue fluid and upended it into the cauldron, then tossed the eel skull in after it. Immediately the concoction glowed a vile purple as it started spiraling around, forming a whirlpool within.
"Smile while you can, you little fish brat!" Ursula muttered under her breath. "This time I'll have the last laugh!"
"And this one!" Ariel said excitedly as she grabbed another firework, holding it for Alana to see. "This one sparkles and flashes like diamonds! And this one changes colors!"
"That sounds incredible!" said Alana, quickly becoming a fan of fireworks from her sister's descriptions alone. "Colored fire in the sky! I'd love to see that!"
Ariel clasped Alana's hands. "We can set up a show for you all! You wouldn't –!"
"Craw!"
Out of nowhere a crow swooped down and began scratching and pecking at Ariel and Alana, buffeting them with its wings. They shrieked, shielding themselves as the bird continued assaulting them.
"Ariel!" Eric darted to them, swinging his arm at the bird. "Get away from them! Go! Shoo!"
The crow flapped back so Eric missed, continuing its assault on Ariel and Alana. It cawed loudly as it continued to harass them, its clawed feet grabbing hold of Ariel's hair as it pulled.
"Let go!" Ariel shouted, squeezing her eyes shut lest a claw or beak find them. "Leave me alone!"
'You are in danger!'
Ariel's eyes snapped open. That voice!
"Get off her!" declared Eric as he drew his sword.
As though sensing the danger the sword posed the crow immediately released Ariel and flew away, perching on the railing of a nearby ship. Now Ariel saw it was not a crow at all, but a large raven. One with four eyes that glowed like fire for a moment before it flew off towards shore.
"What was that!?" exclaimed Alana as she checked herself over.
"A raven," said Eric as he sheathed his sword. "They hang around the docks sometimes. Usually they just take food scraps, but they're smart enough to steal if they have the chance."
"Why did it attack us?"
"Who knows," said Filipe. "Pesky scavengers, the lot of them. Are you all right, princess?"
"I'm fine," said Alana, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. "What about you, Ariel? Ariel?"
Ariel did not respond. She could not explain how or why that raven was here, but she had a terrible feeling there was a very real and dangerous reason behind its presence. Her earlier excitement had been replaced by dread, dampening her spirits like a jewel dipped in tar. Her body started to tremble with trepidation, and the color drained from her face. Her chest felt constricted, sweat beading on her forehead.
Alana noticed the change, felling the tremble in her sister's hands. "Ariel? What's wrong? You've gone white as a beluga."
"We have to go," Ariel whispered.
"What?" said Alana.
"Ariel, it's just a bird," said Eric, misreading her anxiety. "It won't–."
"We have to go!" shouted Ariel, causing Eric, Filipe, and Alana to jump. She grabbed her sister's hand and started running towards shore, desperate to get away before it was too late.
"Ariel, stop! What's gotten into you?" asked Alana, resisting her pull as she was dragged along.
"Captain Filipe!"
Ariel stopped, looking up to the crow's nest of the Glowerhaven galleon with everyone else. A sailor was up there, waving his arms frantically to them.
"What is it, Mister Collin?" called back Filipe, cupping a hand to his mouth.
"Whirlpool's a-brewin' off the wharf! And it's black!"
Ariel paled further as she looked to Eric, their eyes meeting. They knew what the other was thinking. They had seen black whirlpools before, a long time ago. And Ariel had seen them before that as well. There had never been a whirlpool in the marina in the history of Seahaven, much less anywhere along the coast. The sudden appearance of one here, and with such an ominous color, could only mean one thing.
Magic. Sea witchmagic.
Against her better judgment Ariel ran after Eric to the end of the wharf, forgetting to release Alana's hand and towing the confused princess along. She had to see for herself, if only to satisfy a hope that the sailor was mistaken. Filipe followed closely behind Eric, wanting to confirm the sighting for himself. They all but skidded to a halt at the end of the wharf.
A large whirlpool was spiraling in the waters below, black as the depths of night. The water circled the inverted cone at great speed, creating a dull roar that grew in volume as it swelled outwards. Already it was as wide as the wharf and growing larger. A purple shimmering light danced through it as the magic that created it maintained the anomaly.
The feeling of dread in Ariel's stomach blossomed into terror. The only ones who could produce a whirlpool like that were Morgana and Ursula. The last time they saw one was when Morgana fled after her failed attempt to take the trident. She disappeared inside of it, the magical maelstrom taking her far into the frozen south.
Only this time it looked like something was coming the other way.
The next thing Ariel knew, Eric grabbed her hand and started running for shore as fast as he could, pulling her and Alana along with him.
"To arms!" cried Filipe. All sailors on his ship stopped what they were doing at his call. "All hands, swords and crossbow! Load the cannons! To arms, all of you!"
"No!" shouted Eric at the top of his voice. "Get to shore! Everyone to shore now!"
Ursula grinned as she watched Eric and Ariel run, delighting at the terror on their faces. "Oh, it's too late for that, boy! Much too late!"
She threw back her head in maniacal laughter as the whirlpool began to roil and bubble.
"GRRROOOOOOAAAAAARRRGGGHHH!"
There was not a soul on the wharf who did not cover their ears at the roar. The sheer anger in it blocked out all other noise, till a jarring crash of splintered wood drowned it out. A giant fist attached to a monstrous charcoal gray arm burst from the whirlpool and smashed through the wharf's end. The force of it sent a shock wave rippling through the structure, knocking people off their feet and toppling stacks of crates and barrels. Horses and oxen panicked, bolting for shore as fast as they could.
Filipe, Eric, Ariel, and Alana managed to stagger through the tremor, but the latter two failed to stay upright when a second fist punched its way through and latched onto the decking. Alana tripped over her dress and fell, taking Ariel with her as her hand slipped out of Eric's. Wooden splinters and shards went flying in all directions, sending sailors aboard the galleon and nearby ships scrambling for cover as the debris rained down. Eric and Filipe turned back to retrieve the women when one of the hands ripped several boards free and hurled them their way. One caught both men flat in their chests, throwing them backwards. Filipe smashed into a pile of wine barrels while Eric went over the edge of the wharf. Only luck and reflex saved him as he grabbed the edge, leaving him hanging over the water below.
"Eric!" Ariel cried out.
"I'm fine!" called Eric, ignoring the pain in his ribs as he hauled himself up. "Just run! Get out of–!"
A heavy boom and another tremor made Ariel and Alana look back. The giant arms planted themselves on the wharf as six monstrous tentacles of the same dark gray color slithered up onto the decking, suckers latching onto the wood and wrapping around pylons as the creature hauled itself out of the dark portal. Tentacles Ariel immediately recognized.
"It…it can't be!" she cried.
Her doubt was dashed when the beast pulled itself onto the wharf. It stood tall as seven men with a powerful humanoid body. Its skin was a dark gray except for light patches on its stomach and chest. Long thin scars covered its body. Its head bore two large bat-like ears and a single red rimmed yellow eye that scanned the wharf angrily. A pair of long tusks protruded up from its lower jaw. In place of legs were six long tentacles, each lined with powerful suckers. A pair of heavy iron manacles were around its wrists, the broken ends of chains swinging from them. The boards sagged and groaned under its weight.
Ariel could now tell her father where the ancient seaclops went. The enemy made it their own.
The roar reached Lara and her accompaniment well inside the town, closely followed by the distant screams of people fleeing in terror. Melody's horse started dancing about and she found herself struggling to keep the mare under control. Aquata grabbed Roy, Ruth and Jenni, pulling them out of the way lest they be trampled while Lara tried to calm the terrified horse.
"Whoa! Easy!" she said as she took hold of the reins. "Settle down! Easy!"
The horse quieted, eyes and ears still looking about fearfully. Another roar sounded in the distance, accompanied by further screams and shouts. Ruth held tight to her brother while Jenni broke away and ran to Lara, clutching her leg tight.
"What was that?" asked Aquata.
"Don't know, but it sounds like trouble!" said Lara. She looked for a vantage point but found one better when she saw a man up on the town's clock tower, no doubt cleaning the massive face if the buckets and rags beside him were a clue. Now he was peering towards the marina, the commotion capturing his attention wholly.
"Hey! You on the clock! Over here!" she called, cupping her hands to her mouth before waving at him. The man looked down, quickly picking her out. "What's going on? What's causing that racket?"
"Sea monster!" called the man. "It's a giant sea monster!"
"What!? Where!?"
"At the marina!"
The hairs on Melody's neck stood up as she lost her breath. "The marina!" She looked towards the ocean. "Mom! Dad!"
Lara turned back to Melody. She knew exactly what she was thinking when she saw the fearful concern in her eyes. It was the same expression she would have made before she did something very brave or very foolish. Often a combination of both.
Aquata must have seen it too. "Melody, no!"
Melody ignored her aunt's order and dug her heels into the mare's sides with a loud, "Hyah!" She spun it around, knocking Lara and Jenni over before the horse took off for the marina at a full sprint. People darted out of the way as it ran over the cobles, its tail and Melody's hair trailing out behind.
"Hey!" shouted Lara as she scrambled to her feet. "Where do you think you're going!?"
"My parents are down there!" called back Melody. "I have to save them!"
"Save them? Are you crazy!? Get back here!"
Lara started after Melody but it was too late. The horse turned a corner and disappeared from sight, the clop-clop of its hooves rapidly fading. Another crash came from the direction of the marina followed by more screams, the retreating clamor of horseshoes lost in the distant din. People began pouring into the street, curiosity overriding the instinct for self-preservation.
"You…you stupid brat!" yelled Lara as she slowed to a stop, biting her lip in anger. "You're gonna get yourself killed! And someone else, too!"
Aquata ran up to Lara, the three children following close behind. "She's just like her mother! First sign of trouble and she runs right to it!"
"Oh perfect! Just what I need!" said Lara sarcastically. "A princess with a death wish and a bad attitude! Fan-freakin'-tastic!"
"Let's hope she's got Ariel's luck too!" Aquata hitched up her dress and started after Melody.
Lara grabbed hold of her wrist, stopping her in her tracks. "Whoa! Where do you think you're going?"
"After Melody!" said Aquata, pulling against Lara's hold. "She'll get hurt if she goes down there alone!"
Lara was about to tell Aquata to return to the palace with the kids when she took a moment to consider her options. Logic dictated she should do just that. But the palace was more than two miles away, and there could be enemies lying in wait. The monster might be a distraction for something else, and an unprotected princess made an easy target. She could take them back to the castle and then go after Melody alone, but that would take time she did not have.
That left one option: Aquata went with her.
"All right, fine!" Lara said, hoping she would not regret this decision. "We go after her!"
"Then come on!" said Aquata, trying to pull Lara along. "We have to hurry!"
Lara set her heels against the stones, refusing to move. "Not that way!"
"What? Why?" asked Aquata confusedly.
"The marina's gonna be a madhouse! We'll have to get around the crowds to catch her!"
"How are we supposed to do that? Fly?"
"Not quite!" Lara turned to Roy. "Do you know where a tavern called the Mermaid's Trove is?"
Roy nodded. "We walk by it on our way to school."
"Then take Jenni and your sister and go there now!" ordered Lara. "Run as fast as you can! Don't stop for anything!"
"No!" said Jenni, darting to latch onto Lara's leg. "I wanna go with you!"
"Jenni, this is not up for discussion!" Lara pried the girl off, taking her shoulders firmly in hand. "You go with Roy and stay at the trove! You stay there till I come get you! If you follow after me I'll never tell another story! Do you understand?"
Jenni's eyes widened, afraid Lara would make good on that threat.
"Do you understand!?" asked Lara, more force in her voice this time as she gave Jenni a shake.
Jenni only nodded.
"Good girl." Lara looked back to Roy. "When you get to the trove, ask for John! Tell him Lara sent you and he'll keep you safe! Now go!"
"But–!" Roy started to protest.
"Now!" Lara barked.
The sharpness of the command spooked Roy into action. He took his sister and Jenni's hands and towed them away. Jenni looked back to Lara as they ran, holding her gaze for a brief moment. Her foot caught on a stone and she stumbled, dropping the bokken.
"No! Wait!" she pleaded, trying to get her hand free as Roy pulled her away. "The sword! I dropped the sword!"
Lara ran over and picked up the bokken. "I've got it, Jenni! Just go! I'll bring it back to you!"
"Promise you'll come back!" shouted Jenni.
She smiled weakly, blood leaking out her mouth as she reached up to cup Lara's face. "Promise me, Lara. Promise me…you'll keep…on living…"
Lara shook her head, discarding the memory as she sheathed the bokken in her belt. "I promise! You've got my word!"
Jenni looked back for a moment longer. Then, appearing somewhat satisfied with the answer, she turned away and ran with Roy and Ruth in earnest.
"Are they really going to be safe there?" asked Aquata as the three children shrank away down the street.
"It'll be safer than where we're going!" said Lara. "Are you sure you about this? It could get ugly!"
Aquata nodded firmly. "Absolutely!"
Without warning Lara grabbed Aquata and pulled her into a piggyback position. "Then hang on tight!"
Lara broke into a run, not following after Melody but instead heading straight for a stack of crates alongside a two-story building in the complete opposite direction. She went for it at a full sprint, far faster than any normal human could and with no sign of stopping. The building approached with such speed that Aquata instinctively held tighter, fearing they would crash into it.
"Don't let go!" said Lara as they closed on the crates.
Aquata's eyes widened as the building rushed towards them. "Lara, what are you doiiaaaaahhhhhhh!?"
Just before they would have hit Lara bounded onto the crates and leapt straight up, although leap was an understatement. She shot up past the first floor and then the second, rising above the rooftop and then landing on it. Tiles slid and cracked as they came down, but the roof held strong.
Aquata stared back to the ground in slack-jawed amazement. "How…how did you do that!?"
"Ask me later! Help me find Melody!" said Lara as she surveyed their surroundings, easily finding the marina from their vantage. She quickly spotted the monster, her keen eyesight picking out the details of its form. Aquata did not have Lara's eyes, but she had the exact same thoughts as she identified the creature from memory.
What was a seaclops doing here?
A flash of dun caught Aquata's eye, directing her sight to Melody riding for the marina as fast as possible. "There! I found her!" she said, pointing to Melody.
Lara followed Aquata's gesture. Melody was not hard to pick out with her dress or how fast she was going. "I see her!" She gave a small hop, lifting Aquata further onto her back. "We're gonna follow! Think you can hold on?"
"I don't think! I know!" said Aquata, tightening her hold again.
Lara grinned. "Good, because this is gonna be bumpy!"
Ariel could not believe what she was seeing. The seaclops was supposed to be sleeping at the bottom of the sea, sealed within a canyon her father closed up with the trident. It had been buried hundreds of feet underground, far away from the sounds of the world above, namely cacophonous sea calliopes. How had the enemy managed to free it?
Before she could wonder any more a grappling hook arced up onto the wharf. It bounced over the wood before being dragged back by a chain until it caught. The seaclops eyed the chain, following it back to the whirlpool it had come through.
"Don't stand there gopin', ye stupid beast!" shouted a gruff male voice. "Pull us up!"
Ariel was not sure what she expected when the seaclops grabbed the chain in one hand and lifted, but it had not been fifteen grungy and deadly looking pirates clinging to the chain. The seaclops lowered them onto the wharf in front of it as two more hooks came sailing out of the whirlpool. It grabbed these and lifted out even more pirates.
How did she know they were pirates? Because they were what anyone would expect pirates to look like. Their clothes were filthy, tattered, and stained by sweat and salt. Many had poorly done tattoos on their arms and necks, while others had earrings and all manner of ornaments on their faces. They grinned viciously at her and Alana, revealing smiles vacated of multiple teeth, the remainder browned and blackened or replaced with gold ones. All carried some sort of a blade on them, from curved cutlasses to dirks to short swords and knives.
But what really had Ariel's undivided attention were the other weapons they carried. They bore a strong resemblance to the one the sharkanian assassin used to murder William. Some were iron tubes long as her arm set in a wooden frame with a slender piece of metal attached underneath, requiring two hands to hold. Others carried similar looking weapons that were smaller and shorter, one or two in their hands and more stowed on their persons. Some had single barrels while others had two or three.
A sailor from the Glowerhaven ship ran down the gangplank with sword in hand, ready to join his fellow shipmates that rushed back to their captain's call. One of the pirates pointed his weapon at him.
"Look out!" yelled Ariel.
There was a loud crack and a jet of smoke from the pirate's weapon. The sailor suddenly cried out, tumbling down the gangplank. He rolled onto his side, clutching his thigh as blood seeped out under his fingers. His crewmates quickly retrieved him as the pirate sent another shot their way, striking the ship as the man was pulled to safety. Another shot sent the crew to the deck, everyone clamoring for a hiding spot.
"Ye daft bilge rat!" shouted the gruff voice. "If ye're gonna shoot 'em then shoot 'em dead!"
A tall bearded man in a ratty black coat and worn tricorn hat shoved through the pirates as the seaclops lifted up another stringer of men, bringing the pirate's numbers above sixty. Those who saw the man coming quickly shrunk away, making a clear path as he stepped forward. Ariel assumed this was the captain. He carried no sword, but the sheer number of knives he carried more than compensated. They were strapped to his arms, his legs, his chest, and around his belt. There was even a long spike stuck in his hat beside a willowy ostrich feather. At his side was a pistol, but this one was unlike any of the others. It had six barrels bound together and a cogwheel attached to its side.
"Well, well, well!" the pirate captain said with sinister interest as his eyes fell on Ariel, the corners of his mouth curling up in a wicked smile. "Look what we have 'ere, boys! Just the mermaid that hag Ursula was lookin' for!"
Ariel gasped. "Ursula! Did Ursula send you?"
The captain's smile widened, making Ariel's stomach churn. Then he turned around to face the seaclops. "Oi, ugly!"
The seaclops looked down at the captain, a low growl in its throat. It did not look pleased at being called ugly.
The captain pointed at Ariel. "Take her!"
"Run!" shouted Ariel as she leapt to her feet, grabbing Alana's arm and hauling her upright. The seaclops' tentacles lashed out for them, one coming straight for Ariel. Without thinking Alana shouldered her sister aside, the tentacle wrapping around her instead.
"Alana, no!" cried Ariel as she watched the seaclops drag her screaming sister away. It tossed her into the air and caught her in one massive hand, restraining her completely. Alana was too terrified to even scream anymore as she stared into the massive enraged eye of the creature, baring its teeth as it growled.
CRACK!
The seaclops howled as a sharp metal tipped bullwhip raked across its arm, leaving a long bleeding gash.
"Ye useless sack of shark chum! I said get the queen, not that wench!" bellowed the captain, his expression livid as he laid the whip into the seaclops again. The seaclops shielded itself as the whip came around twice more, leaving cuts that answered the question of where its scars came from. "Now grab her or I'll whip ye dead in her place! All of ye, clear a path!"
He waved his hand and the pirate crew quickly cleared to the sides of the wharf, leaving a path for the seaclops. It lumbered forwards, tentacles pulling it over the wood towards Ariel.
"Ariel, run! Get out of here!" called Alana, struggling in futility against the seaclops' hold as its tentacles reached out. Ariel was scrambling to her feet just as a tentacle reached her, slithering around her leg.
"Get away from my wife!"
A harpoon flew over Ariel's head, embedding deep in the tentacle. The seaclops roared and snapped its tentacle back as Eric raced to his wife, another harpoon in his hand. He let loose, sending the harpoon into the seaclops' lower half. The creature backpedaled hard, roaring in pain as it ripped out the barbed lance. It knocked several of the pirates into the water as they scrambled to avoid its spastic tentacles.
Remora laughed as she watched Ursula fume over the bubble, the seaclops flailing about within the orb as Eric pulled Ariel towards the shore.
"Useless, blasted, dim-witted pieces of trash!" hollered Ursula, her teeth grinding in anger. "Can't humans do anything right!?"
"Bungled up, just like always," taunted Remora, smirking underneath her mask. "Must run in the family!"
"Shut it, you!" snapped Ursula. She clasped the bubble, maneuvering her hands over its surface until the image focused on the pirate captain. "She's not safe yet! Not by a long shot!"
"Come on!" Eric ordered as he pulled Ariel along.
"No!" Ariel pleaded, trying to get her hand free. "They've got my sister! We have to save Alana!"
The pirate captain snarled and cursed with a black tongue at the seaclops as it clutched its wounds, the whip flying about as he added more lacerations to its skin. What sort of deformed logic could have led Ursula to think this thing would be of any use? Two stabs of a harpoon and it was flailing about like a fish on deck!
"If ye want someone dead, ye have to do it yerself!" He pulled the pistol off his hip and leveled it at Ariel's back.
From the jostling clutches of the seaclops Alana saw the captain take aim. "Ariel! Eric! Look out!"
BANG!
Melody drove the horse on without hesitation or heed, leaning forward in hope it would allow the animal to run faster. People all but threw themselves out of her path. Twice already the horse's hooves slid on the stones and nearly dumped her, and twice she only spurred it harder. She had no idea what she would do when she got there, and she did not care that she did not know either. All she could think about was that her parents were in danger. If she lost them too...
No! She could not think about that! She would not allow it to happen! She would not lose anyone again! She would protect them! She would not let anyone or anything hurt them or anyone she loved! She would never experience that loss ever again!
She turned a corner to find a mob fleeing up the street. People were screaming and shouting, running as though Death herself was on their heels. She pulled the horse into a side alley as the crowd rushed by in a flood of bodies, choking it beyond any hope of passage. She guided the animal out to the adjoining street and took a left.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The noises hit Melody like a lightning bolt. Images of that ill-fated party flashed before her eyes, and for a split second she was on the floor of the beachside pavilion, staring up at William after he was shot.
William sunk to his knees. He touched his fingers to the hole in his chest, dying the tips red with blood. He looked at her, his face plastered with confusion. "Melody? What…just…?"
His legs lost their strength and he toppled over, blood starting to spread over the floor.
Then it was gone. Melody was thrust back into reality hunched over on the horse, panting heavily and sweating as it kept running. Her heart pounded in her ears like a drum, adrenaline surging through her veins as she tried to quell the brief but horrible memory that materialized.
"What was that?" she gasped.
The mare stumbled a step, jolting Melody so that she gripped the horse's mane. She shook her head, focusing back on the road as she led the mare away from an oncoming crowd toward the marina.
Aquata clung to Lara as they raced over the roofs of Seahaven, heading straight for the marina. How a human could move so fast or with such agility while carrying another person was beyond Aquata's ability to explain. Lara was just as fast as Melody's horse, even carrying another person across this treacherous terrain. She moved with such ease and grace that it almost felt like they were flying.
Lara hopped off the roof onto a balcony, running along the railing before she leapt across an alley and onto another roof, the tiles shifting under her weight. She slid for a moment then kept running, not losing momentum.
"How you doing back there?" asked Lara.
"Just hanging on!" joked Aquata.
"Then make sure to stick around!" said Lara, earning a pained chuckle from Aquata at the horribleness of her pun.
A sharp echoing crack sounded, carrying over the town like the report of a small canon. Lara skidded to a halt, tiles slipping out of place as she stopped. Another crack sounded, followed by several more. She saw small puffs of smoke coming from someone standing beside the seaclops.
Lara knew that noise. It was a noise heard all too often in the eastern kingdoms. It was a noise that foretold death and strife, with blood and suffering soon to follow. And there was only one thing she knew that could make that noise. Whoever held it was the king. They won every argument and always got their way. No one could oppose them without one of their own. Its effect on the politics, borders, and societies of the east was as pervasive as it was catastrophic. Suddenly the weapon Eric described to her from Melody's birthday party made perfect sense. A hollow metal tube with a wooden handle that made a sound like a cannon. That could only be one thing.
"What's that noise?" asked Aquata. "Sounds like it's coming from the–whoa!"
"I'm such an idiot!" shouted Lara, running even faster than before. "I can't believe I didn't figure it out sooner! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! It's so obvious!"
"Lara, what's wrong? What's obvious?"
"That sound!" replied Lara, the worry plain in her voice as she leapt across an alley.
"What is it?" asked Aquata. "What's causing that?"
Lara's answer was cut short when she slipped on a loose tile. The two started sliding down the roof until Lara drew a knife and stabbed it through the tiles, halting their slide before scrambling back to her feet with a loud curse.
"It's a gun!" Lara said, sheathing the knife before taking hold of Aquata's leg again. "Those bastards have guns!"
Ariel felt something hot shoot through her hair and by her cheek. Then a splintered hole appeared in a wine barrel in front of her, the crimson liquid pouring out like blood from a wound. She remembered William lying dead, the red stain spreading from the hole in his chest as his life drained away. If she or anyone else got hit by whatever that weapon was firing, they would fare as well as he did.
Real fear gripped Ariel, instinct screaming at her to run. She allowed Eric to pull her away as the captain continued to fire at them, some of his villainous crew joining in. The air whistled as the projectiles cut through it. The seaclops covered its ears with its tentacles, distressed by the noises.
A bullet flew right between Ariel and Eric, leaving a shrill whistle in their ears. The two dove over the wine barrels, knocking over the open crate of fireworks on top and sending rockets rolling across the wharf. There were more loud pops as the pirates kept firing. People ran about in panic, not knowing what to do. Some made for the safety of shore while others chose the water, diving off the wharf. One man was grazed in the ankle and now hobbled for the safety of a nearby boat. He threw himself behind it, but his hat remained visible over the top. A bullet struck and sent it flying off into the water.
The pirate captain turned the wheel on his pistol, causing the barrels to rotate. He pulled the trigger to fire but was rewarded with a small click. His gun was empty.
"Hold yer fire! Hold yer fire, ye mangy curs!" he shouted, retreating for the safety of his crew as a human shield.
Ariel and Eric peered around the side of their hiding spot. The captain had retreated into the center of his crew, most of whom were now pouring powder or jamming thin iron rods down the barrels of their guns. The seaclops still held a struggling Alana, hardly paying her any mind as it kept its ears covered. Now that she could get a better look at it, Ariel saw its body was even more scarred than she first thought. There were scars all over its skin, and not just the ones caused by the whip. There were burns and lacerations as well. Ariel suddenly felt pity for it and newfound disgust for the pirates. The seaclops was not doing this willingly. They had beaten the creature into submission.
"Fall in, men! Get anything you can use as a weapon!"
Filipe! In all the chaos Ariel had forgotten about him! The captain stood in the middle of the wharf. Behind him was his crew that had disembarked their ship. They were joined by brave men that had come at the commotion, all carrying swords and knives or whatever objects would serve as a weapon, be they oars, broken bottles, harpoons, or lengths of chain. They fell in rank behind him, a hundred strong at least.
"Fear not, Princess Alana!" declared Filipe, drawing his saber and holding it high. "We will rescue you at once!
Horror gripped Ariel as she realized what Filipe intended.
The mare rounded the last corner to the marina, Melody weaving her around the fleeing throngs. The wharves came abruptly into view, the ship masts forming a forest of sails, ropes, and chains as gulls flew overhead, calling angrily to the clamor below.
At the far end of one of the wharves was a seaclops, a creature Melody had only heard of in stories from the merfolk. In one of its large hands was the purple-garbed form of Alana, and a large group of scruffy-looking men were clustered around it. A second large group were assembled on the wharf, their backs turned to shore. All carried a weapon of some sort. Someone in front was waving a saber overhead.
And to the side of the men, hiding behind a stack of wine barrels, she saw her parents.
"Mom! Dad!" Relief flooded Melody to see her them unharmed as the horse charged down the wharf.
She was barely a hundred yards away when the seaclops let loose a loud roar. The horse skidded to a stop, rearing in fright at the sound. Melody tried to spur it forward, but the horse refused to budge another inch. She quickly dismounted, releasing the animal to run back to whatever safety it could find as she ran to her parents.
"Mom! Dad! You're all right!" she called, ignorant to the danger she was running towards.
"Come on men!" shouted Filipe. "Show these bilge rats what the men of Glowerhaven–no, of the Alliance are made of! Charge!"
The men charged the pirates with the captain leading the way, shouting at the top of their lungs with weapons and fists raised. Their boots thundered over the boards in a stampede of bravery and foolishness.
"Don't!" shouted Ariel. "Captain, stop! Don't do it!"
"Halt!" commanded Eric, his words falling on deaf ears. "Stop! They'll kill you!"
The pirate captain sneered at the charging men as he finished reloading the last barrel. "That's right, run! Run to yer deaths, ye stupid dogs! Form up! Double tier!"
He gave two shrill whistles. Immediately the pirates formed ranks, one group standing with the other kneeling. The captain leveled his pistol at Filipe, his villainous crew following suit with vicious smiles in anticipation of the slaughter they were about to cause. The seaclops closed its eye and hunkered down, covering its ears against the coming thunderstorm.
"Mom! Dad! You're all right!"
Ariel and Eric spun around to see Melody running towards them, relief painted across her smiling face. She was right in the line of fire!
Ursula grinned as she waited for the impending massacre. This was delicious! Not only would she get to see Ariel die today, but the queen could watch her daughter die in the hail of gunfire that was about to be let loose.
"Mow them down!" she yelled, ecstatically awaiting the moment her vengeance came to fruition. "Mow them all down!"
"Melody, hide!" shouted Eric in panic. Melody kept running towards him, unaware of the peril she was staring down.
The pirate captain smirked with toothy malice. "Fire!"
"No!" screamed Ariel.
BANG!
A/N: As always, be sure to favorite if you enjoyed reading! And follow if you want to see what happens next! There is much more to come!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Little Mermaid," Disney, or any of its associated characters and intellectual property. Everything else, however, is mine =)
