Aries was currently floating with his eyes close. He is perfectly still; his sword is gripped in both hands and the only thing around him is the sound of the ocean. The sound of the ocean and…
"Are you sure I'm not bothering you?" Arista asks her brother as she was playing her clarinet getting ready for a performance with the Catfish club.
"Not at all. I need to be able to stay on task with as many distractions as possible." Aries responds to her without opening his eyes.
"Why are you doing that anyway?" she asks him.
"Mom didn't leave anything to teach myself, but Dad can make the Trident do what ever he wants just by thinking about it. Maybe I can duplicate that."
"Daddy also doesn't have a sword that doesn't cut. Is it weird to think of Mom as some kind of great warrior?" Arista asks.
"Wars don't make one great. But no, Mom was a protector which is what I remember her as. The sword won't even respond to my commands unless I'm defending myself or others." Aries responds opening his eyes for the first time. Arista seems to be thinking about something before she speaks again.
"What about the Great Apollo?" she counters Aries. He looks at his sister before cracking a smile. Aries drops his arm, and the sword returns to necklace form.
"That was a battle not a war." Aries sits on a rock listening to his sister play her clarinet.
"You've gotten great at that Arista; the Catfish Club is lucky to have you." Aries complements his sister.
"Thanks, but I'm just happy to be in the band. Speaking of the band, you and Ariel are coming to my next show, right?" Arista asks wanting her younger siblings to see her preform.
"Of course, we wouldn't miss it for the ocean." Aries responds.
"I'm asking in advance because you know how our baby sister can be." Arista says. Before Aries can respond her the sister, they were talking about appeared as Ariel then swims up with Sebastain and Flounder and some kind of note in her hand.
"Hi Arista, Aries we need you're help. We found this note and someone named Simon is being held by a sea monster." Ariel tells her brother.
"Are you sure that's what's going on?" Aries questions his sister.
"Of course, that's what's going on. Simon even sent a map so someone could recuse him." Ariel says.
"How would Simon get a message out if he was the one that was captured?" Aries asks again still not buying it.
"We'll were going to help Simon. You can come along if you want." Ariel tells Aries as she swims off.
"Well, our baby sister has come calling for you, guess I'll see you later." Arista tells Aries.
"I'm going with her Arista, but Ariel hasn't come calling for me. I'm there to make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble." Aries says as he swims after Ariel.
"But if I'm being honest, I did want to hear Arista play. Oh well perfect time to make sure Ariel knows about her performance." Aries thinks to himself.
Aries catches up to Ariel, Flounder and Sebastian and the four follow the map to the entrance of a cave.
"This is it. The sea monster's cave." Ariel says having finally reached the cave.
"It's d-darker than octopus ink in there." Flounder says.
"You're absolutely right, Flounder. There's no way we can—" Sebastian starts to say.
"If you're going in the cave, I'll be a big help." A Lanternfish says as he just passes by.
"A lanternfish!" Ariel says exited.
"Now we have two lights." Aries says as he calls his sword, the blade now glowing a green glow.
"When did you learn to do that?" Flounder asks Aries.
"Let's just say it came to me in a dream." Aries answers.
"Oh now, the whole ocean is working against me." Sebastian says following the others into the cave.
"Lighten up! things look pretty bright to me." Lanternfish jokes with everyone.
"At least now we'll see what's going to eat us." Sebastian says.
"Don't worry Bas, you haven't been eaten yet on our adventures." Aries reassures the crab.
"Then we're do for being devoured." Sebastain is still worried.
"Keep smiling. we'll come shining through." Lanternfish jokes again.
Sebastian then sees something in the corner of his eye with low light and screams.
"Aah!" When Aries moves his sword closer to see what scared the crab, they see it was just a small fish.
"Ohh! how cute!" Ariel says looking at the big-eyed fish.
"Yes, adorable." Sebastian says as the keep swimming. Sebastian notices something else behind him and thinks it's the same fish as before.
"You, again? You better get swimming before I get tough." Sebastian says before seeing it is a giant squid.
"Oh, yeah?" the Squid says." Which scares Sebastian.
"Don't mind him, Mr. squid. He's just a little crab with a big mouth." Ariel says.
"Now wait just a..." Sebastian doesn't finish as Ariel grabs him and covers his mouth.
"See?" Ariel says.
"My friend here suffers from little crab syndrome; he didn't mean to offend you Mr. Squid." Aries apologizes for Sebastian.
"Well okay, but you should get him a muzzle or something. You're not going down there?" The squid says seeing the path the group was taking.
"Afraid so." Flounder responds.
"But a horrible sea monster lives down there!" The squid warns.
"Takes one to know one." Sebastian whispers.
"These guys don't look very bright. Oh, don't mind me. I make light of everything. Get it?" Lanternfish says another joke and Aries is about to lose it.
"Ariel if this fish makes another light joke, I'm going to bang my head against the nearest wall." Ariel just giggles at her brother.
"Another door! I sure hope it's locked." Flounder says as he notices a door.
"Me, too." Sebastian agrees.
"Well, we've come this far." Ariel says wanting to continue onward.
"Let's think about this a minute. Better yet, let's think about it for a couple of months." Sebastian tries to get out of entering the door that has opened with a loud roar. The group is then sucked into the cave where they land in a large bowl of seaweed.
"I don't like the looks of this." Ariel says as everyone lifts their heads out of the bowl. Large footsteps and a roar are heard.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Aries says hearing the sounds coming toward them. He tries to lift his sword, but the seaweed has wrapped around the blade and his arm. He focuses and his sword is back a necklace.
"I don't like the sound of that." Sebastian says.
"Come on! hurry! Flounder." Ariel says as she Aries and Flounder swim off. Sebastain tries to get free, +but he pulled back down into the bowl of seaweed.
"Where's Sebastian?" Ariel asks as she, Aries and Flounder hide behind a rock.
"On the menu." Flounder answers as a large Sea monster enters and rolls the seaweed up with Sebastain inside as Sebastain screams.
"Oh, no!" Sebastian says as the monster takes his first bite. Hearing Sebastian the monster speaks. Aries summons his sword and swings it sending a small blast of energy toward the opposite side of the cave. No damage is caused but it does take the monster's attention away while Ariel swims toward the seaweed sandwich and pulls Sebastian free.
"I smell something fishy." Monster says.
"He can smell you, you're going to get us eaten!" Sebastian says to Flounder.
"It's a crab!" Monster says which causes Flounder to look at Sebastian. Monster then sniffs and goes right to where the group was, but they moved to the table he was previously eating. The Monster turns around and Sebastain gasps as he sees the Monster looking where the group is. The group swims off again as the Monster knocks his bowl over landing on everyone. Sebastain and Flounder have no problem slipping from under the bowl, but Ariel and Aries are too large.
"Ariel, Aries, come on!" Flounder says.
"Uh, i, uh, we can't!" Ariel says as she and Aries both are stuck.
"I need to work out more." Aries says as he can't budge the large bowl at all. Flounder and Sebastian hide back under the bowl with them. Monster then picks up the map next to his bowl.
"All right! where are you?" the Monster says as he looks around.
"Sebastian, stop shaking!" Ariel tells the scared crab. Sebastian grabs his legs to try and stop shaking but the bowl begins lifting as the monster sees them. Ariel, Aries, Flounder and Sebastian swim off between the Monster's legs as he is unable to grab them.
"Hey! hey! stop! stop!" the Monster says as he chases them, and they swim trough a hole in the cave only to get stuck in a plant. The monster then appears in the room as they group struggles in the plant.
"Aries, blast that monster with your sword." Sebastain says clearly afraid.
"At best I tickle him and at worst it makes him madder Bas." Aries says not wanting to go for his sword.
"You're just in time for dinner!" The Monster says.
"What have you done with Simon?" Ariel asks.
"And please don't tell us that you had him for lunch." Sebastian says.
"I'm Simon. I'm the one who wrote this. In fact, I've written hundreds. Had this party set up for years. You will stay, won't you? Please?" Simon asks the group. Aries turns his head and looks at his little sister with a blank expression. Ariel knew that was his version of an I told you so. Still Ariel looks at Simon.
"Oh, you poor lonely monster." Ariel says as Simon starts crying.
"We'd, uh, love to come to your party." Ariel says seeing Simon cry.
"As soon as we get unstuck." Aries adds.
One party couldn't be that bad, could it?
"Oh, goody, goody, goody, goody." Simon says as he tickles the plant and gets it to let the group go. Sebastain then tries to swim away.
"Swim for your lives!" Sebastian says as Ariel grabs him.
"Come on, Sebastian. We can be his friends for a while." Ariel says as Simon grabs the plant and puts it on his head as a party hat.
"What's up with you today, Bas, picking on Squids, wanting to ditch a monster's party. What happened to The Great Sebastain." Aries chuckles as Sebastian is still afraid.
"You're going to love my party." Simon says as he puts party hats on everyone.
"Ya-hoo! And I'm a monster chef! You know, I feel trapped in this cave. Most other cave creatures are scared of me. Or rude when I go out." Simon says as he passes a party snack around, which Aries begins to eat more than his share of.
"Aries!" Ariel whispers to her brother.
"What? He's being a good host." Aries defends himself. Simon then burps and Aries does the same as Ariel sends him a look.
"Excuse me." Aries says. Simon then starts to sing
Why do all the flounder flee
Everytime they look at me?
Try, but I just don't fit in
I only make crustaceans cringe
Though I thought I had a smile worth sharing
I don't know why I scare the herring
I'm so lonely, sad and blue
What's a monster to do?
Ariel then decides to sing with him
You've got to sing
A happier song
Simon:
I don't know
Ariel:
It's time to change that same old tune
You've got to move on
Simon:
You think so
Ariel:
Pick yourself up
Brush off your scales
Get that old tired
Whale of a tail
Tapping along
Sing a new song
Where I come from everyone would love to be your friend.
Sebastian: Maybe not everyone
Ariel:
So come out of your shell
And get into the swim
There's a wonderful world
Waiting for you to jump in
Just say goodbye to the dark and gloomy
Come outside where it's bright and roomy
Try your smile on someone new
And watch what it can do
You've got to sing
Simon:
I've got to sing
Ariel:
A happier song
Simon:
A happier song
Ariel and Simon:
It's time to change that same old tune
Ariel:
You've got to move on
Simon:
I've got to move on, yeah
Ariel and Simon:
Pick yourself up
Brush off your scales
Get that old tired
Whale of a tail
Tapping along
Sing a new song
"Great! I'll get packed! All set!" Simon says as he returns quickly.
"Ariel, I'm glad we made a new friend today, but you just invited a sea monster to Atlantica and didn't clear it with Dad first." Aries tells his sister.
"I'm sure Daddy will be fine, after all he's the one who told us we should always be nice to guests." Ariel says to Aries.
"Ok here we go." Aries says as he starts to head home with Simon right behind them.
As the group nears Atlantic Sebastain tries to think up a story to tell the King.
"You see, your majesty, the sea monster would have eaten us if we hadn't taken him with us. No. he won't believe that. Let's see, oh, we didn't see him follow us home! No no no no no. how could you not see this guy?" Sebastian thinks out loud.
"All right!" Simon says as he sees Atlantica and begins running.
"Simon, wait for us!" Ariel says as they try to chase Simon. Triton is now looking out on his balcony where he notices Simon Approaching.
"Sea monster!" Triton yells out.
"Eek! seaquake!" Arista yells. Simon then gets stuck in the door to Atlantica as he tries to fit through.
"Ah!" Ariel gasps seeing Simon get stuck.
"Ariel!" Triton yells out knowing his daughter had something to do with this.
"I told you this was going to be a bad idea." Aries looks at Ariel.
"Aries!" Triton yells just as loud.
"And now I'm in trouble." Aries says looking at Simon still stuck.
As Simon continues to struggle at the castle Door. Triton has swum down to his two youngest children.
"What under the sea is going on?" Triton asks the Mertwins.
"Daddy, this is Simon, our houseguest, or at least the bottom half of him." Ariel explains.
"Hmm! another of your stray pets, you two?" Triton asks.
"Oh no dad, the only pet I have decided on keeping is Comet." Aries defends himself.
"No, he has a home. He just doesn't have any friends." Ariel explains.
"Oh, I see." Says Triton.
"Ariel thought if we brought him here, we could help make him some friends." Aries adds on filling the King in. Simon finally frees himself.
"Argh! Unh! Hmm? Hey, how you doing, kingy? The name's Simon. pleased to meet you. Heard a lot about you. I hear you're the boss merman, the big fish, the head conch-shell, the top sea-cucumber, the main mackerel." Simon says happy to meet the Sea King.
"I can't imagine why he hasn't any friends." Triton says as Aries laughs at the nicknames Simon has given his father.
"That's why he needs us to play with." Ariel says. Triton finally agrees.
"Very well, but remember, I'm very busy so try to play quietly." Triton says as his kids swim off with Simon.
Later Ariel is showing Simon had to play a game she, Flounder and Aries have a lot of fun with involving a disc.
"You throw it like this." Ariel explains to Simon as she throws the disc, and it comes back to her.
"Whoa-ho-hey!" the Disc says as it comes back to Ariel.
"Oh, boy! let me try! let me try! Gimme, gimme, gimme!" Simon says as he throws the disc.
"Wh-h-h-h-oa!" the Disc says as it soars through the sea.
"Simon, you lost our sand dollar." Flounder says watching the sand dollar clearly not coming back.
"He didn't lose it Flounder, he just set a record for the game." Aries said still surprised by Simon's strength.
"Oh, it's o.k. There's plenty of sand dollars in the sea." Ariel tries to console a crying Simon.
"That's why I don't have any friends. I always break their toys or lose them." Simon says still crying. Just then the sand dollar returns.
"wh-h-h-h-oa!" The sand dollar yells as it flies into King Triton's throne room and collies with Sebastian knocking the crab silly.
"See Flounder, a new record." Aries says still in disbelief.
That night when it was time for bed Simon was upset again.
"I thought a house guest was supposed to sleep in the house." Simon says disappointed.
"You don't fit in the palace, let alone any of the guest rooms." Flounder answers Simon.
"We'll have lots of fun tomorrow. Big fun!" Ariel tries to cheer Simon up.
"But your father doesn't like me." Simon says sad again.
"Dad doesn't like humans and sea witches. You are neither Simon." Aries tries to cheer Simon up.
"He's doing his best. But as a good guest, you should do your best to make him happy. You can curl up in the giant sea anemones. Good night." Ariel tells Simon.
"Good night, Ariel. Be a good guest. How could I make the king happy? I know!" Simon thinks to himself as he lays on the sea anemones."
"Retreat! retreat!" the enemies of Atlantic yell as Simon nearly crushed them.
Late that night as everyone is sleeping, Simon begins singing in the middle of the night.
"Oh, no." Ariel says as she sees everyone swimming outside their rooms to see what is making so much noise.
"This had better be a nightmare." Triton says feeling annoyed.
"Shh, Simon." Ariel says trying to get Simon quiet.
"I'm only trying to be a good guest. Did you like my serenade?" Simon asks Ariel.
"Simon was just saying good night, daddy." Ariel tries to cover for Simon.
"Good night, your royalness! Sleep tight, don't let the water bugs bite!" Simon tells Triton.
"Uh, yes. good night, Simon." Triton responds back to Simon.
"He won't make any more noise, daddy." Ariel promises.
"I'll believe it when I don't hear it." Sebastian says. Everyone heads back to sleep and Simon jumps and crashes on a bed of sea anemones which run away before he lands on them.
Triton falls out of his bed, upset but hoping to get to sleep. Ariel is about to say something to Aries, but notices not only was he already asleep, but the Merlad had sleep through Simon's entire serenade. Aries really could sleep through a Seaquake.
The next morning Triton is peacefully sleeping when he hears jumping coming from a giant guest outside waking him up. The King puts on his crown as he heads outside to see not only Simon, but Aries as well. Simon is jumping up and down doing jumping jacks while Aries is doing warmups with his sword.
"A little morning exercise. Come on, everybody! Join in!" Simon says as Arista starts laughing. Aries notices his sisters and other than Arista they don't look amused.
"What is going on?" Ariel asks as she is brushing her hair.
"Simon, please stop." Triton says.
"Sorry dad, I came to do my morning routine and Simon wanted to join in." Aries tries to defend Simon, but it is too late.
"I knew it! I'm such a loser! A total wash out! The scum of the ocean floor! Everybody hates me!" Simon cries as he walks away from Atlantic.
"Simon, wait!" Aries calls out.
"Daddy, can we go and bring him back?" Ariel asks.
" No, I'll do it. It's my fault our guest was insulted." Triton says as he swims after Simon. Aries swims up to Ariel and Flounder hoping Triton can get Simon to come back.
"Now is our chance! Attack! Destroy." One of the enemies says.
"Hey, I just came along for the looting." A second says.
"O.k., loot then, loot!" The first orders. The small army then charges into Atlantica as Ariel, Aries and Flounder look on. Aries swims off knowing his father isn't around and sees guards trying to close the gates.
"Aries wait!" Ariel calls her brother. Aries get to the guards and swims past them.
"Close the gates behind me and defend everyone." Aries orders. He calls forth his sword and sees the approaching army.
"Surrender! your king is gone." One enemy says.
"And so is his trident." Another says.
"Your sea monster friend is gone as well." The first says. Aries smirks.
"Yes, that's true, but the sword is still here." Aries says showing off his sword. While Aries knew the sword wouldn't cut the enemies didn't know that.
"He, he is but one person, his sword can't stop us." The enemy says clearly showing some fear.
"Maybe not, but they can." Aries says pointing behind the enemies. When they turn around Simon and Triton are back as the army slowly begins to retreat leaving just two behind. Simon then walks up right behind them.
"Boo!" Simon says scaring the two.
"Time to turn tail, fellows. Uh, I think I'll turn them hot pink." Triton says as he fires a blast of energy from the Trident sending the last two running.
Later Triton is seen making a special declaration about Simon.
"Therefore, I deem you, Simon, a friend of Atlantica, and you are welcome here anytime." Triton says celebrating Simon.
"See, Simon, you can make friends." Ariel says.
"Yeah, and you're only going to make more friends from here on out." Aries adds.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah! I'm going to make friends with every creature in the seven seas. I guess I better get started. Thanks for everything, Ariel. And you too Aries. Thanks, kingy! Ta-ta!" Simon says as he leaves to make new friends.
"Bye-bye, Simon! come back soon." Ariel and Aries say as they wave bye to Simon.
"Hi, how are you? Nice to meet you. Howdy. Hey, come here. Shake my hand. How are you doing? Hey nice to see you. Nice day! Hi, how are you? Nice to meet you. Hello there. Howdy." Simon as he leaves Atlantica on his way to make new friends.
Aries smiles as he sees Simon leave but as he looks to Ariel, he notices something.
"You have that look in your eye like you want to ask me something." He says to her.
"You swam right into danger when those guys were here to loot Atlantica, what if you got hurt?" Ariel looks at him.
"I had the sword, and Dad was there really quick."
"You have a sword that doesn't cut Aries." Ariel stops and thinks before speaking again.
"I know you blame yourself about Mom, and I know you think your getting better at hiding it, but that doesn't mean you should put yourself in danger. You don't have anything to prove to anyone." Ariel tells her brother.
Aries thinks about her words before responding.
"She protected me without hesitation, Ariel. So, if I can do that for someone else, I have to try. But the difference between Mom and I, Mom was ok with what ever happened as long as she knew we were all ok. I'll be more careful because if something happens to me, I know what that would do to you, Dad our sisters and everyone."
"You promise?" Ariel asks.
"Mertwin promise." He says as Ariel hugs him.
"Now come on, I have this great spot to show you and Flounder." Ariel says having been cheered up. Aries just smirks and swims after her.
Unbeknownst to Aries however, someone in a black cloak which hid them, was watching him.
A/N: Hey everyone, sorry for this chapter taking so long, I have been sick all last week and I had finals, but good news, I'm feeling better and my finals are over. I will be getting started on Charmed very soon as I like that episode and how Aries can fit into it. I had a nice chat with a fan of the story, it was fun and thank you everyone for the reviews. Also, there is a set up at the start of this chapter and the end. Until next time take care everyone.
