Aries was currently watching Ariel and Flounder as they went down a slide. He smirks to himself and then dodges a sneak attack from his new friend Urchin.
"No way you heard me swimming up behind you." Urchin is shocked Aries dodged him.
"You swim loudly bro; not much else I can say." Aries says as Urchin swims back up to him.
"How's your performance going?" Urchin asks Aries.
"It's going to steal the show, like only I can. Check it out." Aries says as he begins doing a few dance moves.
"Bop, bop bop bop."
Urchin laughs. "You're good Aries. But I think I prefer Ariel if I had a choice." Urchin says.
"Of course, you do, I'm sure Ariel is prettier to you then I am." Aries jokes with Urchin causing the young merman to blush.
Aries could admit to himself that at first, he didn't like Urchin, it was hard to go from being the only boy in the family to having company, but now he couldn't picture his life without Urchin. Urchin was like a little brother other than the fact that Aries noticed quickly his new friend had a crush on Ariel which was weird to Aries. He knew his sister was beautiful, he wasn't dumb or blind but the thought of someone actually showing interest in his sister put him on guard. Aries had trouble with any of his sisters dating as he came to think about it but maybe because Ariel was his little sister and they did everything together he was more defensive of her. His thoughts returned to normal as he noticed his father had arrived and was talking to Urchin.
"She's wonderful isn't she." The King says out loud.
"She great, just great." Urchin replies.
"And perhaps old enough to." Triton adds. This catches Aries's attention.
"Old enough, for what?" Urchin questions.
"I was thinking the same thing." Aries wonders to himself.
"I'll go to Olympia personally to make the arrangements." Triton finishes to himself.
"Arrangements?" Urchin questions again.
"Young Prince Thor and Ariel will be perfect together. A perfect Union." Triton says as he swims away.
"Union?" Urchin ponders. Aries heard the same thing.
"What kind of Union would Dad want Ariel apart of?"
Later that day Aries is with his sister and their friends seeing their father off.
"And when I return, I might have a surprise for you Ariel." The Sea King tells his youngest daughter.
"But Daddy the Olympians are brutal and war like." Ariel says.
"So are humans but that has never stopped you." Aries thinks to himself memories of his mother never truly leaving him.
"I Know, but they have never really been to war. Besides I have my trusty Trident." Triton says.
"I don't know, maybe I should come with you Dad and then you'll have the sword as backup." Aries says.
"No need Son, this is a peaceful visit, stay and enjoy the day with your sister and your friends. Onward lads." Triton says as the royal chariot takes off.
"Bye daddy I love you." Ariel says to her father as his chariot takes off.
"See you later dad, take care." Aries adds.
"Goodbye, goodbye."
"Have a great trip your majesty, yes. Thanks for not asking me to go with you. Olympia is a horrible place." Sebastian says as Urchin asks him a question.
"Sebastian, what's a union?" Urchin asks.
"Well, it's usually a marriage." Sebastian answers.
"King Triton's going to Olympia to arrange a marriage!" Urchin yelps.
"Marriage? The King?" Sebastian laughs.
"Urchin, the King wouldn't be getting married without consulting me." Sebastian responds.
"Not him, Ariel!" Urchin tells Sebastian. Aries meanwhile perks his head up at the mention of his sister's name.
Later Aries is practicing sword swings as he hears Urchin tell Ariel his theory while the Mermaid begins to laugh.
"Oh Urchin, that's the silliest thing I've ever heard. Ariel says which Flounder agrees.
"I told him, but he thinks the king's arranging a marriage, for you with the prince of Olympia no less."
"Father would never do that. Don't worry, Urchin. Daddy has six older daughters to marry off first." Ariel says as she rubs Urchin's chin and swims off with Flounder.
"Maybe he's starting at the bottom." Urchin says which gets Aries's attention.
"Not likely, Dad allowed Attina to choose her betrothal, and if anyone was asking for permission from, him it would be to marry me." Aries tells Urchin.
"Why's that?" Urchin asks.
"I'm seventh in line birth wise but Atlantica has never had a queen before. While our Kingdom is fine with Attina taking the throne one day I was told there was a lot of pressure on my mother to bare a son from outside kingdoms. That same pressure is now on my father as there is chatter that I would be better to take the throne then Attina would be." Aries finishes.
"So why would that make you more suitable to be married off?" Urchin asks his friend.
"Someone is either asking him to marry me off in the hopes their daughter would be queen of the greatest sea kingdom in the ocean, or father may see me marrying a merprincess as giving a kingdom a King thus removing the conflict between myself and Attina. As far as I'm concerned Ariel would end up on the throne before me. I'll never take a birthright from any of my sisters. I'm more of a Knight of Atlantic then a King." Aries says as he now swims off as well.
Later Urchin is sitting on the throne listening to Sebastian.
"I'm telling you nobody is gonna marry Ariel." Sebastian tries to reassure Urchin but doesn't realize how his sentence sounded.
"Thank you very much, Sebastian." Ariel responds upset. Urchin and Flounder chuckle as Sebastian tries to explain.
"What I mean is nobody is gonna come here from Olympia to." Sebastian is cut off by Prince Thor being announced.
"I'm here for Princess Ariel." Thor announces.
"See I told you." Urchin says to Sebastian.
"You can't have her." Flounder says as Thor pushes him out of the way.
"Well, you're pretty enough." Thor says looking at Ariel.
"And you're more than arrogant enough." Ariel responds.
"Look this isn't my idea." Thor explains.
"Now I suppose you'll tell me my father arranged it." Ariel responds.
"Yes, he did." Thor says.
"Obviously there's been a terrible misunderstanding, or somebody's playing a big joke." Ariel says looking at her friends.
"Well, I obey my father. If he says we're partners, then it shall be so." Thor says but he is stopped as a sword pops in front of his face.
"You've been in Atlantica all of 5 minutes and already you have disrespected one of my best friends and my little sister. That's not good behavior Prince Thor." Aries makes himself known to the other prince.
"Prince Aries, I've heard rumors about you back in Olympus. The prince who got the Queen slayed at the hands of humans." Thor says back. Aries recalls his sword and swims closer to Thor.
"Say that again." Aries demands, but Sebastian swims in front of Aries as Ariel grabs his arm.
"Princes Aries you need to be more respectful of your guests. What would your father say." Sebastian tries to calm Aries down. Thor getting the effect he wants then swims off.
"Thor. What kind of name is that." Urchin says trying to lighten the mood.
"He is royalty. We must treat him with respect, with dignity." Sebastian says.
"He didn't treat us with dignity or respect." Aries counters.
"Sebastian, this ridiculous! I'm too young to get married!" When Daddy gets home, He'll." Ariel starts but is cut off by Sebastian.
"Be most upset. You've insulted the prince. You especially Prince Aries." Sebastian says looking at Aries. Aries knows Sebastian is upset as he used his official title.
"Ugh. All right. Invite him to dinner. And maybe by then you can teach him some manners." Ariel says as she swims away.
Aries begins to swim the other way needing to cool off.
"Aries are you going to find the prince?" Sebastian asks.
"I'm going to cool off, before I do something that will upset my father." Aries responds as he continues on his way.
Aries swims for awhile wanting to clear his head. He was upset. Upset that his father had potentially offered his sister off to be married. Upset at the way Thor had treated everyone, and mostly upset at how Thor had talked to him. He closed his eyes as he sat on a rock. The memory of Queen Athena was always on his mind. Aries had gotten better in blaming himself for his mother's death but to hear other kingdoms knew about that day and were now blaming him was new.
"No Attina to talk to this time. Just my luck." Aries says out loud to himself. He summons his sword and looks at it.
"Last gift you left me Mom, was I worth it?" Aries thinks to himself. He knew Ariel would get married and start a family one day, that's what Mermaids do after all, he would do it himself hopefully, but Aries was faced with something new. First it was Urchin and now even Thor mentioned it. His sister had grown into a beautiful young mermaid. To Aries she was still his little sister, his twin, his best friend but now he was dealing with new feelings. Boys were started to be attracted to his younger sister and unlike his older sisters and their relationships, Ariel and Aries were always together, a relationship from either of them would change that.
Ariel had crushes before, Aries himself had a couple also but never the fear of Marriage. Thor could take Ariel back to Olympia, what if Aries only saw her a couple of times because she was far away, what if he wasn't allowed in Olympia.
Aries was lost in thought and didn't notice a silver blur sneak up on him and tackle him.
"Comet, hey girl. What are you doing out here?" Aries asked as Comet had appeared next to him. Comet rubs her head against Aries as he massages her head, unaware of the figure swimming up behind him.
"Your mother would have noticed my arrival young merlad, however I guess I can't fault either of you for that." A voice speaks to Aries. He turns around quickly, his necklace transforming into a sword in his hand to protect himself.
"What did you say?" Aries half asks half demands.
"You can put your sword away; I mean you no harm. As for your question I said your mother should have taught you about your abilities, but it's not her fault, she didn't have a teacher either." Aries looks at the visitor. He can tell she is a mermaid, but her purple cloak is keeping her appearance hidden other than a blue-green tail.
"If you're a friend, why sneak up on me?" Aries asks still not sure of the mysterious mermaid.
"You seem like you needed to talk to someone, so I followed your friend here." The mermaid reaches out to rub Comet who allows the touch. Seeing Comet trust the newcomer Aries relaxes somewhat.
"How do you know about my mother?" Aries asks.
"Athena passed her gifts down to her all her children. All your sisters got her voice, Attina got her name, Ariel got her beauty and you Aries got her sword, just as she inherited her abilities from her father."
"So, you know about my sword and mother, any other information you have for me?"
"All in do time, I honestly prefer seeing what you can do on you own for right now, it assumes me."
Aries can see a small smile under her cloak but not much else.
"I figured as much, probably just someone else who wants to mention my mother and how her death is my fault." Aries says but the mermaid speaks again.
"Athena's death was not your fault Aries. A mother will do whatever she can to protect her children. Athena would have done the same thing 100 times over if given the chance, because she knows how special you are Aries. It is always sad when we lose someone, but Athena still lives in all her children, she lives in you Aries. Whenever you miss her or if you miss someone else, as long as they have a place in your heart they are never gone. I know if you could see your mother now, she would be happy at the Merman you are becoming, and she would tell you the only thing that hurts her, is that you hold the grief you have in your heart." The mermaid speaks.
Aries turns to speak to her again, but she is already gone. He felt confusion, anger at himself but also relief.
"I'll make her proud Comet, I promise I'll make Mom proud. Mind giving me a ride back to Atlantica?" He asks Comet who allows him to mount her as she takes off toward the kingdom.
Aries returns to the castle to see Thor outside and swims past him, once he reaches Ariel, Flounder, Urchin and Sebastian, he can hear them talking.
"Oh, I can't believe he thinks I'm gonna marry him." Ariel says.
"If we follow my plan, he won't even want to be in the same ocean as you." Urchin says.
"He is the prince of Olympia; we can't be making him any madder than he already is." Sebastian says.
"Then maybe you should let the Prince of Atlantica handle this." Aries says letting himself be known.
"Aries!" Everyone says as Ariel swims over and hugs him.
"Urchin explain what you have done so far and I'll handle it for here." Aries says.
"Prince Aries. What are you planning?" Sebastian asks.
"Thor and I are going to play a game is all." Aries responds.
After hearing what Urchin has already done to Thor, Aries made, his way to the Prince of Olympia.
"Thor, from one prince to another, I have to ask that you leave my sister behind." Aries says.
"Not a chance, my father wants this union and thus it will be. If Atlantica had better customs I wouldn't have to take her back to Olympia." Thor responds.
"Then I challenge you to a duel, I win you go home and Ariel stays. You win and she goes with you right now." Aries says. Thor smiles.
"You want to challenge me to combat prince of Atlantica. I am not a queen you can cost the life of. What duel do you want in this case?" Thor asks.
"You got a sword." Aries says as he summons his sword while controlling his emotions. Thor smiled before reaching into his chariot.
"A true warrior is always prepared." He says as he pulls out a sword. Aries closes his eyes and stays calm. He was starting to get used to the feeling. The feeling that the sword would move for him if he needed it to. Thor seeing an easy victory went in for a strike to try and disarm Aries, but Aries blocked the strike easily.
Thor was a warrior who had been trained all his life, but Aries was something else entirely. Aries's sword felt like an extension of his arm as he would block every strike Thor sent his way.
"Can you fight back prince of Atlantic, or does your offense only work against your own mother." Thor taunts. Aries, however, stays the course almost as if he is dancing during the duel. As Thor gets upset, he begins to get sloppy, Aries sees this and now he begins to fight back. In addition to blocking and dodging he begins to throw counter strikes pushing prince Thor back, but Thor is still clearly the aggressor. Finally, as Thor begins to show signs of being tired, now Aries is the one who presses his attack. Aries moves his word almost as if he is dancing and before Thor knows his sword is thrown from his grip and Aries has the tip of his blade at the prince's face.
"Well look at that, guess the musician defeated the warrior." Aries taunts. Thor gets angry and looks at Ariel and her friends watching from the window.
"Now I understand, you think she's too good for me." he says angrily.
"As a matter of fact, I do, but you're the one who wanted to play my game and now that you lost you want to go home and not play anymore. I thought Olympia produced honorable warriors." Aries taunts back.
"Home Gnasher, home Crusher." Thor orders as he leaves Atlantica.
Urchin, Ariel, and their Friends join Aries.
"Aries, that was cool, you sent that guy packing." Urchin congratulates his friend.
"Thor may come from a kingdom that values war and battle, but he knows less about swordsmen ship than I do. My moves are sloppy, but he was predictable." Aries responds.
"You call that sloppy?" Flounder asks. Aries nods his head.
"So, before I showed up what was your plan going to be Urchin?" Aries asks.
Later the day Aries is with his sister and their friends as his father has returned and is explaining what he had been doing at Olympia.
"And Thor said you attacked him when he told you you were to be partners in the seas games." Triton explains.
"Games?" Everyone says.
"You and Thor could have won that event. It would have been a perfect Union." Triton says. Aries just looks at Urchin, both boys know that have made a major mess this time.
"There's no wedding?" Sebastian asks.
"Wedding?" Triton asks confused.
"Of course, there's no wedding. Now where did I get such a silly idea?"
"Father, I think there is something you should know." Ariel starts to explain but Aries speaks up.
"I defeated Thor in combat with the sword, Dad. There was a major miscommunication on my part, and I took his arrival as hostile to Atlantica. I didn't hurt him, but I did damage his pride." Aries tells his father. Urchin and Ariel are both in awe, one second Aries was playing with them and having fun and the next moment he could be almost as regal as Triton himself.
"That must be the Attina in him." Ariel thinks to herself.
"Son why would you do that to a guest to Atlantica and on top of that a Prince none the less?" Triton is upset but not yet angry, only confused at Aries's behavior. Before Aries can respond, however, the royal proclamator arrives.
"Olympia has declared war on Atlantica." The seahorse tells Triton.
Aries follows his father alongside Ariel and Urchin to the balcony where they see Olympian troops outside Atlantica.
"The Olympians have final found a reason to go to war." Triton says.
"Father I." Ariel starts but is cut off.
"Not now. Get down." Triton tells the teenagers as he swims off. Aries and the others dock for cover.
"Oh, Oh, Mon! I was almost a crushed crab." Sebastian says.
"This is all my fault. I taunted and antagonized Thor instead of trying to talk to him like a Prince should." Aries says looking down.
"We have to stop this. You two take care of Flounder and Sebastian." Ariel tells the boys.
"Be careful Ariel." The boys say. Aries sees his father defending the kingdom and makes up his mind.
"Urchin, take care of things here, I have to help my dad." Aries says as he calls his sword and swims off.
Triton tries to destroy as many shell grenades as he can, but he misses two which are heading for a merfamily taking cover, before the shells can hit however Aries knockings them away saving the family.
"Swim for cover." He tells the family who swam away while thanking him.
"Dad, I'm here let me help you." Aries tells Triton.
"Aries no go and find somewhere safe to hide." Triton says concerned for his son.
"Dad, Atlantica and my sisters need me here backing you up. I promise I'll follow your lead, but you can't protect all of us by yourself. So let me do my responsibility as Atlantica's prince and your son." Aries tells his father. Triton can see he won't win this debate right now and decides.
"You follow everything I tell you understand." The Sea King says. Aries nods his head and stands ready next to his father. Aries follows his father continuing to knock away the random shell that Triton may miss and trying to look out for anyone still trying to get to safety. Aries notices Urchin however out the corner of his eye.
"What is he doing?" He says as he notices Thor with Ariel. As he turns his attention back to Urchin, he sees a stray shell hit right in front of Urchin.
"Urchin!" Triton yells concerned. Aries sees his friend and is in shock.
"No, no, NO!" Aries yells as his sword glows a green color before releasing a blast of energy. Several green waves of energy shaped like crescent moons are released from the sword as it doesn't harm the Olympian army, but it does knock most of them from their seats and destroys most of their shells.
Aries begins breathing hard and his sword returns to his seashell necklace as he collapses. He begins slowly swimming over to his father and Urchin with Urchin starting to recover.
"I'm not going away. Don't worry" Ariel tells Urchin who is waking up.
"Ariel!" Urchin says excitedly as he hugs his friend. Aries swims up and hugs Urchin as well.
"Don't scare us like that next time you want to be Super Merman." Aries jokes with Urchin.
"The Merboy was only stunned. Perhaps peace between us isn't such a bad idea Augustus." Triton tells the King of Olympia.
"Agreed Triton. And war is a bad idea." Augustus says as he shakes Triton's hand.
"Can you believe it; I caused a war. I was just so scared you'd leave and never come back Ariel." Urchin says.
"I caused the war Urchin; you just got me started." Says Aries trying to lighten the mood.
"No Aries, I was scared I'd lose one of the first real friends I ever had and egged you on as well." Urchin says feeling bad.
"Oh, Urchin. No matter what happens our friendship is forever." Ariel tells Urchin.
Augustus, however, turns back to Triton.
"About your boy, I thought power like that had be lost to time. Is he a?" Triton cuts him off.
"I believe so yes. But Aries doesn't need to know that." Triton answers back.
"So, Queen Athena, the rumors were true. Triton why do you hold the boy back when there are sea witches swimming around? Especially with your connection to the Sea Witch?" Augustus asks.
"Aries will live his life free like his sisters, not anything else. As for the sea witch, I will continue to deal with Ursula myself. If I have my way, Ursula will only know Aries as my son and the prince. Those are his only titles." Triton says.
"Your son is safe with me and Olympia, but if he keeps using that blade, especially if he can do that." Augustus points at his army.
"It will only be a matter of time before Ursula takes notice of him."
"Maybe we can be partners after all." Thor says swimming up to Aries, Urchin and Ariel.
"Maybe, in the sea games." Ariel quickly adds shaking his hand. Aries smirks at his sister before looking back at the damage he caused. He had no idea what he was capable of, but he knew one thing. He needed to talk to the mermaid in the purple cloak next time she appeared.
A/N. Sorry for the long wait everyone. I won't get into everything that happened to me since the last update but let's just say three colds and a computer issue combined with finishing up my last year in college left me busy.
However, it was time to get back to this story so let's just call this the start of Season 1B of the story. Next chapter will be out a lot sooner and I have been waiting for Aries to meet the Main villain of Season 1 of the show the Evil Manta.
The Mermaid in Purple will be a continuing mystery but will be answered soon and I named dropped Ursula finally. Wonder why Triton doesn't want his son to meet the Sea witch. Another mystery I'm setting up.
Well until next time, sorry again but the next chapter will be out much sooner.
