Chapter 3, A FEW YEARS LATER

….

A young preteen boy sat at small table, looking at a book with boredom. Nearby a large man stood nearby and glared at the boy.

"Prince Stoppable, can you give me the answer?"

Ron cringed. "Uh, no."

The man sighed. "Listen Prince Stoppable, it's important that you memorize your lessons. What you're learning will be essential when you become king."

Ron sighed. "Yes sir."

Just then, a roundly built man wearing a crown entered.

"Dad?" Ron exclaimed in surprise.

"Your highness." The large man exclaimed and bowed.

King Stoppable smiled. "How are things coming, Regent Barkin?"

Regent Barkin grimaced. "Well, your highness, uh…"

"I see," Stoppable said, understanding the gist. He looked at Ron. "Not getting it, son?"

"Hey, I'm trying dad," Ron protested. "It's just that school doesn't suit the Ronster."

King Stoppable sighed. "I guess you're just a late bloomer, son."

"Sounds right." Ron agreed anxiously.

King Stoppable sighed. "I guess I won't give you any extra studies this time."

"Booyah!" Ron exclaimed excitedly.

Regent Barkin stared in disbelief. "Your highness, may I speak freely?"

King Stoppable smiled. "You don't approve, do you?"

"Of course not. He must work hard."

"He's just a kid," King Stoppable told his Regent. "He has plenty of time before he must become a man."

"Heard him Regent B." Ron said gleefully.

"Now Ron," King Stoppable warned, "Just because you're a kid doesn't mean you can be disrespectful."

Ron cringed a bit. "Understood."

King Stoppable relaxed a bit. "You're dismissed."

"Booyah!" Ron exclaimed as he took off to have fun.

"Great." Barkin murmured.

"He's a boy." King Stoppable assured his Regent. "He must enjoy being young while it lasts.

Regent Barkin didn't agree, but wasn't going to argue. "As you wish."

UNDER THE SEA

DNAmy awoke. She stretched her arms and tentacles as she yawned. She looked around her lair glumly. "Poor me. It was like it was yesterday; I was once a respectful scientist in Middleton. But they said I was mad, just because I liked Cuddle Fishes."

Flashback

Two guards led a handcuffed DNAmy into a large room. The witch looked around. There was a jury on her left. Some other scientists on her right. King James Possible and his wife were before her.

"What is the meaning of this, your highnesses?" DNAmy demanded.

"You know very well DNAmy." King Possible said sternly. "You have been accused of unethical experimentations."

The scientist tried to look innocent. "What experimentation are you referring to, exactly?"

Two guards came forward, carrying a cage with a dead creature inside. It looked like a shark with the fins and tail of a stingray.

"My Cuddle Fish!" DNAmy exclaimed in horror. "What did you do to it?!"

"This…thing went on a rampage," King Possible said in growing anger. "People could have been hurt if it wasn't stopped."

"Oh," DNAmy said remorsefully. "Well I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to escape."

"And your twisted experiments?" James asked coldly.

DNAmy became indignant. "Your highness, please, 'twisted' is a mean word."

"Actually, it's quite accurate," King Possible stated. "And these experiments are just one example of your crimes."

A servant merman swam up. "Granting criminals parole without consulting a higher authority, embezzling funds."

"I needed to do those experiments," The scientist said pleadingly. "There is nothing wrong with them."

James sighed and looked at the Jury. "What is your decision, members of the jury?"

"Guilty." They announced.

King James Possible looked down at the scientist. "You are hereby banished from Middleton."

"No please!" DNAmy pleaded.

"If you return, you will be sentenced to life imprisonment or execution." King Possible added. "Guards, take her to the edge of the kingdom."

"You're a bunch of meanies!" The scientist screamed as she was pulled away.

Flashback ends

DNAmy sighed. "Now look at me. I'm nothing. Banished, poor and despised." She scowled. "Well one day I will overthrow that big meanie and then I'll make all the Cuddle Fish I want." She then went over to a purple shell basket. "Well, first, I'll need some ingredients to make breakfast and an experiment."

She swam out of her cavern.

….

Meanwhile, in the palace of Middleton, a preteen mer-boy swam into a large room. He had dark eyes, curly brown hair. His tail was purple.

"Hello, Will Da." Said a voice.

The mer-boy looked at the girl who had spoken. "It's Will Du, your highness." He corrected.

The girl was a preteen. She had tan skin, shoulder length black hair. "My apologies," She said. "Please, just call me Zita."

Will Du look tense. "But your highness, it's improper to use a princess's name."

Zita scowled. "Well if a princess gives a command, you must obey."

"Oh dear," Will Du said, looking troubled.

Zita sighed. Will Du was the son of a Middleton official and took protocol seriously. "Please, your princess wishes to be treated like a normal girl for this occasion."

Will took a deep breath as he relented. "Very well your high…I mean, Zita."

"Good," Zita said. "Now your princess wishes you to play Evercove with her."

"Evercove?"

"It's a role-playing fantasy game." Zita said. "You've never heard of it?"

"No." Will said.

She gestured to a parchment on a table with some other items. "The rules are listed. But since your new, let's just do a duel."

"Duel?" Will Du asked.

"Yes," Zita said, picking up a toy sword. "I'm Zora, the Lone Archer."

Will look troubled. "But you're a princess."

"In real life." Zita pointed out. "This is a game. Don't you know how to use your imagination?"

Will cringed. "Well yes. But to treat you like you're not a princess…"

"OK, I get it, it troubles you. But just remember, a princess is only part of who I am. I'm also a girl who likes to have fun."

Will Du bowed. "Very well your highness. I will duel you as if you are a mere archer."

Zita smiled. "Very good. What would you like to be? I'm thinking you could be an enemy solder."

Will took a toy sword from the items of the game. "As you wish princess Zita."

Zita was going to enjoy this.

…

Inside the girls' dressing room, two mer-boys swam inside. They looked almost identical; same body shape, color and tails. The only differences were their vests. One wore a red while the other wore a green one. It was how merfolk could tell them apart.

Sneaking over to some dressing tables, they started replacing various items with near identical items. The boys looked at each other.

"Hicca-bicca boo?" One said.

"Hoosha." The second said. Both boys moved out.

Meanwhile, a few corridors away, three preteen mermaids swam. One was a tan brunette called Bonnie. Another was a pale skinned blond named Tara. The other was a black haired girl named Yori.

Yori noticed that Bonnie was sullen. "You alright, dear sister?"

"Oh it nothing," Bonnie retorted. "Kim thinks she's just so special."

"Well she is good at a lot of things," Tara reminded.

Bonnie crossed her arms and pouted. "Well one day I'll outdo her."

Yori looked sympathetically at her sister. "You should appreciate what you can do instead of trying to outdo others."

Bonnie groaned. Yori could be so annoying, even though it wasn't her intention.

"She's right, Bonnie," Tara concurred. "You're a better swimmer then me after all."

Bonnie groaned again. Tara was one of the few people that she couldn't get mad at without feeling guilty for it.

Tara shook her head. She grabbed a comb and started to brush her hair. Suddenly the comb came to life, got out of her hand and proceeded to comb her hair every which way.

Yori and Bonnie stared at their sister in stunned disbelief. "What happened?" Bonnie asked, perplexed.

Tara whimpered, troubled by her currently tangled hair.

Yori frowned at the dressing table and picked up lipstick. She eyed it suspiciously. Then it suddenly sprayed red goo at her mouth, smearing her chin and cheeks. She sputtered, annoyed with what had just happened.

Bonnie glared at the items on the table. "Whoever tampered with our stuff is going to get it."

"Well at least you didn't get caught." Tara complained, rubbing her fingers through her tangled hair.

"But I won't be able to give my skin a rubbing." Bonnie whined.

"Then try something else out." Yori said, grabbing a cloth and cleaning the smear on her mouth.

….

The Market Place of Middleton had an array of stores. One of them was Club Star- which had an appeal to various teenage mermaids. Two preteen mermaids swam through the door, looking around. One was a very dark skin black haired girl named Monique. Another was a young redhead named Kim.

"Hey, these are cool," Monique said happily, examining some bracelets.

"Sure are." Kim agreed.

Monique swam to another rack and bumped into a young mer-boy.

"Oh, sorry." She apologized.

"Hey what is your probl…" The boy trailed off, his eyes became vacant.

Monique eyed the mer-boy. He was very young- about the age of her twin brothers. Unlike her brothers, he was plump and had a dark blue tail. Like her, he had dark skin, black hair and brown eyes. Right now, he was staring at her with a dazed expression.

"You alright, sweetie?" She asked.

The mer-boy blinked his eyes. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. You're pretty."

Monique stared at the boy in stun disbelief.

Kim swam up to them. "What's going on, big sister?"

"Your sister is pretty." The mer-boy said sheepishly.

"Uh…thanks." Monique said slowly. "What's your name?"

"Wade." The mer-boy said slowly. "I'm here on an errand for my mother."

"Well that's nice." Kim commented. "Glad to have met you."

"Likewise." Wade said, looking at Monique. "So…where do you live?"

"The palace." Monique said.

"Palace?" Wade asked.

"Why yes," Monique said. "Kim and I are daughters of King and Queen Possible."

"Daughters of…" Wade's eyes widen in shock. "Oh man. I…I just remembered, I gotta go!" He turned and swam as fast as he could.

Monique and Kim stared in shock. "I didn't mean to upset him." Monique said slowly.

"No you didn't," Kim agreed. "But maybe you can make it up to him."

Monique frowned at her younger sister. "How, sis?"

"Invite him over."

Monique rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, he freaked out when he found out I'm a princess. Getting a royal invitation will do him so much good."

"Yeah," Kim conceded. "That would be so the drama."

…..

The royal twins swam through a corridor. "Well that was fun." Jim said.

"Sure was." Tim agreed.

They entered a room full of various odds and ends. They turned to one of their projects.

"Tim, Jim!" A stern voice said.

The two mer-twins turned in surprise. Their father, King Possible, floated in the room, frowning. Behind him were Yori, Tara and Bonnie.

"Hi dad." Tim said, smiling innocently

"What do you want?" Jim asked, also trying to sound innocent.

"Did you tamper with your sisters' stuff?" James asked, his voice calm but stern.

"Uh no." Jim said, smiling sheepishly.

"Liar!" Bonnie shouted.

James scowl deepened. "Then what happened in your sisters' dressing room?"

"We replaced their stuff with our own." Jim admitted.

"So you did tamper with their stuff." James said coolly.

"Actually to tamper with something means you actually tampered with it." Tim corrected hopefully.

But what they used was our own stuff." Jim said, smiling sheepishly.

"Ugh!" Tara huffed, displaying anger she seldom showed.

"Your stunt was very improper." Yori retorted.

"Dad, punish them!" Bonnie shouted.

"Girls, calm down." James said before looking at his sons. "You boys are beached."

"Beached?!" Both boys said simultaneously.

"You will no longer have access to your lab for the rest of the day and the whole day tomorrow."

"One day?" Bonnie said indignantly.

"Yes, Bonnie," King Possible said. "They're young. I went pretty easy on you and your sisters when you were their age."

Bonnie froze in shock and embarrassment while Tara and Yori cringed for a moment.

…..

Princess Kim and Princess Monique were leaving Club Starfish. Suddenly a scream echoed somewhere.

"What's going on, girlfriend?" Monique asked.

"Not sure," Kim frowned.

The girls then noticed a growing commotion, as if the whole city was becoming aware of an upcoming disaster. Some merfolk were swimming in a panic while others seemed as confused as the princesses. Kim looked around and then up. "Monique, look!"

Monique looked up in shock. There was an object high in the surface descending towards the city. Several mer-people started swimming to and fro in terror. The huge object crashed into the market place.

….

Kim and Monique swam into a castle corridor. Mermen solders swam to and fro. Before long, the two mermaid princesses reached a chamber where their father was.

"Father." Kim called out.

"Kim, Monique." King Possible exclaimed. "Are you two alright?"

"Dad, what's going on?" Kim asked.

"Yeah, something big crashed in the market place," Monique said.

"It's a human ship," James said grimly

"Human ship?" Monique asked.

"It sank from the surface," James said grimly. "Humans are trouble."

Kim frowned. "Why would humans send a ship down on us?"

"Not now." James told his daughter. "I have to supervise things." He swam off.

"Man." Monique said grimly. "Do you think humans are trying to invade us?"

"I don't see how," Kim frowned. "To my understanding, humans can't live under the sea."

"You got that right, little sis." Monique agreed.

…

000000

Zita swam through the corridor and entered the dining hall. Her mother Queen Anne and two of her sisters, Tara and Bonnie, were sitting at the table.

"Hey Zita." Bonnie said.

"Hey Bonnie," Zita said, taking a seat.

Some servants arrived with tonight's meal.

Moments later, Monique, Kim and Yori and arrived. "So when will dinner be ready, mom?" Monique asked

"As soon as your brothers arrive." Anne answered.

"What about Dad?" Kim asked.

"He's very busy with the sunken ship fiasco." Anne said sadly.

"He won't be here today?" Tara asked sadly.

"The ship caused a lot of damage," Anne explained grimly. "And there were a few causalities."

"Oh dear," Yori grimaced.

Then the two twins arrived. "So what's for dinner?" Jim asked.

I'm hungry." Tim added.

"Tuna, seaweed spaghetti and clams." Anne told the twins.

"No sea steaks," Jim and Tim said in unison.

"No," The Queen said frowning. "Now let's say grace."

The Royal siblings folded their hands as their mother said prayer. Then they began to make their plates.

Kim looked at her mother. "Mom, why did the humans send a ship down here?"

Anne frowned. "I don't know for sure. There might have been a battle on the surface."

"Battle?" Monique asked.

"Battle?" The twins exclaimed in excitement.

"Humans sometimes fight each other," Anne explained. "There might have been two ships fighting, and one ship lost and sank."

"Oh dear." Yori murmured, her mouth full of food, her eyes wide with perplexity.

"But why would they fight?" Kim asked.

"Kim, don't worry about the humans," Anne said softly. "They can't come to our world, which is as it should be."

Kim frowned, wondering about these humans. She had heard that they lived above the water and were dangerous, and couldn't live in the ocean like mer-people could. But still, her thoughts focused on them...

"You alright, sis?" Monique asked.

"Huh?" Kim exclaimed. "Oh, uh... no big."

….

To Be Continued

.

Author note/behind the scenes

1, I want the characters to be in character. Ron may be a prince, but he's still a slacker and Barkin is still getting on his case.

I hope you like the portrayal of Kim and her brothers and sisters, and others are done well..

2, I plan to have trivia scattered in the fic, and Evercove was based off Everlot from the KP Series.

3, that prank Tim and Jim pulled on their sisters was based on a prank in an actual episode from Disney TLM TV Series.

4, well now you have officially seen DNAmy in exile. Hope you liked it.

5, I hope you like the gradual introduction of Mer-Folk prejudice towards humans as well as Kim's growing interest in the Surface World.