Chapter 6 A Month Later

…..

In the Middleton palace, the royal princesses were doing their studies. In a coral chair sat their teacher, a plump elderly merman with a green tail, gray hair, mustache and glasses.

Five of the six princesses sat in their seats while Tara kept working on her shell that produced a mystic screen. She arranged some icons in a certain equation.

"Are you done yet, Tara?" Bonnie complained.

"Bonnie," The teacher said. "That isn't becoming"

"Yes Professor Acari," Bonnie grumbled.

"Finished," Tara said at last.

"Good, now." Araci said, taking the shells. I'll grade them. Anyone with four or more mistakes will get extra homework tomorrow."

The girls grimaced and then began to leave the classroom, going off in directions. Monique then glanced at Kim and followed.

"What you up to little sis?" She called out.

Kim turned to face her dark skinned sister. "I think I'll go for a swim in the south."

Monique crossed her arms. "Seriously Kim, you got your head in the clouds."

Kim didn't reply and swam off.

"Seriously, what is with that girl?" Monique said in annoyance.

SURFACE

The surface of the ocean was largely peaceful, with the salt sea air all around and strong winds as the water made waves. Suddenly a redhead popped her head out of the water. Kim Possible pulled wet hair out of her eyes and looked at surroundings. It was always an incredible experience.

Suddenly another head popped out. It was a boy with dark skin and black hair. He panted. "Kim, you know I don't swim that fast."

"Sorry Wade." Kim apologized. "This whole place is fantastic."

Wade shrugged. He never really bought into Kim's obsession with the surface. To be fair, it was new territory and probably had things worth discovering. But apart from being forbidden, the surface had places that couldn't be swum upon called dry land. But even if they could, there were the humans who were very dangerous.

Kim began to splash around happily. Wade just floated. He wasn't a swimmer like his friend, but he did enjoy her company. Up ahead were seagulls, flying to and fro. Wade then heard a distant noise. Looking around, he saw a huge object on the horizon.

"Kim, a ship!" He shouted.

Kim's eyes widened. "Let's keep our distance, Wade. We should be fine."

On the ship, sailors were dancing. On one end of the ship was a group called the 'Oh Boyz', who were playing musical instruments. Among the dancing sailors was Prince Stoppable, dancing happily to the celebration.

"You're quite the dancer, your highness." Duff Killigan called out as he played a fiddle.

"Booyah!" Ron exclaimed happily. "No one can dance like the Ronster."

Two big men joined with the young prince.

"Hey Pain King and Steel Toe." Ron said to the men. "Want to show me your fancy moves."

"Oh we will!" Pain King shouted. "I can dance way better then he can!" He pointed a figure at Steel Toe.

"And I'll show you how I can move my feet!" Steel Toe shouted menacingly.

Ron grinned. He knew these sailors well. They acted like enemies but it was all fun and games and brought out the best in the young prince. The two men proceed to dance in a way that resembled wrestling.

Nearby, Barkin eyed the whole thing in distaste. He wasn't really against dancing, but somehow the sailors brought out the worse in him and he didn't like Prince Stoppable being around them.

In the ocean waters, Kim reached the ship, barely able to see the activity from her position. Wade nervously followed. "Kim, we should go."

Kim frowned at the ship. "I wish we could get closer."

Wade became more agitated. "Closer? We shouldn't even be at the surface, let alone close to a ship."

"Wade will you relax. It's so not the drama." Kim scoffed.

On the ship, Rufus was on a rail, enjoying the party. He happened to turn and eyed the moving water and suddenly… "Huh?" He exclaimed in shock. Below in the deep water were two humans, floating a great distant from the ship. He rubbed his eyes, doubting what he was seeing.

"Uh Kim, something's watching us." Wade said, pointing to the creature up high.

"No big, it's just a surface animal." Kim shrugged.

Suddenly lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a clap of thunder.

"What's that?" Wade exclaimed in terror while Kim eyed the sky in concern.

On the ship the celebration had stopped as everyone looked up in concern. As the cloudy sky darkened, an ominous feeling filled everyone's hearts.

"Get to your posts, Laddies!" Killgan ordered the crew. "A hurricane's a' coming!"

"On it." Hirotaka answered as he went to his station.

Rain began to pour. Wind blew hard. Ron hesitated as sailors took off to different parts of the ship. The Oh Boyz band went to take their instruments to a dryer location.

"Stoppable, get below." Barkin ordered.

"Oh, er, sure." Ron said awkwardly. He turned to comply, but then stopped. "Rufus?" He looked around anxiously. He then saw Rufus on the floor, unable to stay in place on the shaking deck. "Rufus!" He ran to catch his endangered friend.

In the raging waters, Wade gasped as the currents flowed roughly around him and Kim. A wave suddenly rose and struck them. "Kim, we should get out of here!" He gasped as they surfaced.

Kim gasped too, but wasn't paying attention to her friend, her eyes refocusing on the ship as it got tossed to and fro.

Rufus suddenly slid over the boat's edge, and with a yell, fell into the water.

"Rufus!" Ron shouted and, without thinking, jumped overboard to save his friend.

"Wade someone fell off-" A wave struck Kim, interrupting her. "Someone fell off the ship." She finished.

"So?" Wade asked before another wave struck him and Kim.

"I have to go!" Kim said and swam towards the ship.

"Kim!" Wade shouted as another wave struck him.

Ron gasped for breath as he tried to swim to find Rufus while keeping his head above water, but he was tiring fast.

Kim reached the area and saw that the human was a boy about her age. It was clear he couldn't swim very well and the waves were tiring him. She recalled that humans couldn't breathe in water like mer-people could. The young man sank beneath the waves. Kim dived down and caught the boy, then swam back to the surface. It wasn't easy, staying above water level with the pouring rain, blowing wind and clashing waves, but she had to try. She knew the boy's best chance was for her to go to the forbidden region.

She then noticed another creature was trying to stay afloat, but nearly drowning in the attempt. Carrying the human in one arm, she swam towards the tiny creature as the water raged and tossed around them. With her other hand, she caught the struggling creature.

Rufus panicked, not understanding he was being rescued, but was too weak to resist. Before long, he too stopped struggling, barely aware of his surroundings.

….

The storm had passed. On a beach Ron was laying on his back, unconscious. Next to him, Rufus was semi-conscious, moaning. Kim laid by the Ron's side concerned. She hoped that she was able to save this human. She threw a glance at the bald creature.

"Are you alright?"

Rufus coughed a bit as he got to his feet. He saw Ron and gasped. He ran up to Ron's chest, chittering, hoping he was alright. Kim grimaced, wishing she could do more. Rufus then glanced at the girl next to his owner and froze. First he was surprised that she wore very little besides a shell top. Then his beady eyes widened when he saw that the girl had the tail of a fish instead of legs. He shrieked.

"It's OK, I won't hurt you," Kim said, not realizing the real reason behind Rufus' perplexity.

Rufus hesitated, still not sure what to do.

Ron suddenly coughed, his eyes fluttered. Rufus gasped in surprise. Kim cringed, wondering if she made a mistake staying with him. Ron stopped coughing, gave a few ragged breaths and just laid there. Kim stared uneasily at the human, recalling the tales of how evil humans were, and wondering if she should take off.

The boy's eyes opened, than he saw the girl beside him. "Am I dreaming?"

Kim didn't reply, wondering if she should swim away.

"Did you save me?" Ron whispered.

"Yes," Kim said softly.

"Are you an Angel?" Ron asked.

"No." Kim shook her head.

"Well, you're a very pretty girl." Ron said wearily, his eyes focused on the girl's flowing red hair, green eyes, and angelic face. He then noticed her slender body- and a fish tail. "What the!" He exclaimed, scooting away.

Kim felt fear and pulled herself back to the water.

"Wait! Don't …" Ron had another coughing fit.

Rufus looked at his master and back at the mermaid. Head sticking out of the water, Kim's green eyes focused on the young human, wondering if she should swim away.

Ron cleared his throat and looked at the red-haired girl in the water, staring at him. "Please don't go." He begged.

Kim didn't swim away and just floated there with her eyes on the boy, still wondering what to do.

Ron sat wearily on the beach, wondering what to do. "Did… did you save me?"

Kim wondered how to reply. "Uh… no big."

"I disagree," Ron said simply. "If it wasn't for you, I'd be dead."

Kim considered that.

"Are you a mermaid?" Ron asked in a low voice.

"Yes I am." Kim said a feeling dread deep in her stomach.

"That's badical." Ron said excitedly, but then sighed, his fatigue catching up with him.

Kim frowned, unsure why this human was excited about her being a mermaid. "Well, I have to go."

"But you can't!" Ron shouted.

"I have to." Kim insisted. "I'm not supposed to be here."

"Why?" Ron said unhappily.

Kim sighed. "I have to get home."

"Will I ever see you again?" Ron asked.

Kim looked at the young human, perplexed. Somehow, refusing to see him again seemed cruel. But she didn't have a choice. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm not supposed to be here"

Ron looked sadly at the young mermaid, his heart breaking. "OK. Thanks for saving me."

"No bi… um you're welcome." Kim said sadly. "Bye."

"Wait!" Ron shouted again. "I hope we'll see each other again."

Kim felt a sick feeling in her chest. "Me too." She turned and dived into the water.

Ron eyed the smooth water, contemplating his savior. Rufus stood by Ron, looking up sadly. He moaned his sympathy.

"Ron!" A voice shouted. "Ron, is that you?"

Ron and Rufus looked up and saw a man about his age with glasses. "Ned?" He exclaimed, recognizing the servant from his castle. "What are you doing here?"

"My work shift at the palace is over, Ron." The teenager explained. "I came out to get some peace and quiet. What are you doing here? Weren't you on a trip at sea?"

"I was." Ron explained. "Then a storm erupted. I got knocked off the ship."

"Oh man." Ned said, looking uneasy. "Well, you were lucky to wash up on the shore."

Ron gently picked up Rufus as he got to his feet. "Actually, I didn't wash up on the shore. I was saved by a mermaid."

"What?" Ned asked with a frowned.

"Yeah, she was a pretty redhead girl except she had a fish tail." Ron smiled.

Ned eyed Ron in disbelief. "I think you swallowed too much sea water. Let's go. Your parents will want to see you."

"Go?" Ron asked.

"Your castle is not far behind. Let's go. What you think I just strolled on the beach 'til I was miles away?" Ned joked.

"Good point." Ron conceded, feeling silly. He looked at his belt. "I don't have my pouch, Rufus. You'll have to be carried."

"No problem." Rufus assured his owner.

"Well let's go." Ned said, turning to head back to the castle.

With Rufus in his hands, Ron quietly followed Ned, his mind still on the mermaid he met.

UNDER THE SEA

A guard led Kim into the throne room, where King James and Queen Anne were sitting.

"Hi Mom, hi dad." Kim said to her parents.

"Guard, leave us." James said sternly.

The guard complied. As soon as he was gone, Anne spoke. "Kim, where have you been? We were worried sick."

Kim hesitated; aware she had no acceptable answer.

"Kim, tell us what happened." James demanded, his voice quiet but with an edge to it.

"I went to the surface." Kim confessed reluctantly.

"What?!" James exclaim in shock and anger. "Kim, the surface world is dangerous."

"Kim, what were you thinking?" Anne demanded.

"Look it was fine. Till a storm came and-"

"A storm came." James said in disbelief. "Kim, swimming to the surface is unwise, but doing it during a storm is stupid and dangerous."

"But if I hadn't, he would have died." Kim argued.

James and Anne stared at Kim in shock.

"Die?" James asked, not understanding.

"Who would have died?" Anne asked.

Kim realized that she had said too much, but couldn't back down now. "A… a human boy fell out of a ship."

Anne gasped in horror. "Kim!"

"And you saved him from drowning?" King James demanded in disbelief.

"I had too." Kim argued.

"Contact between our world and the human world is forbidden!" James snapped.

"But he would have died!" Kim countered.

James scowled. "Then there would be one less human to threaten us."

Kim stared at her father in stun disbelief. "Dad, how can you say that?"

King Possible sighed, weary of this discussion. "Look Kim, humans are dangerous. You could have been killed, or worse."

"Dad, you're wrong, this human was-"

"Enough!" James snapped impatiently. "Kim, you are beached for a week."

"A week?" Kim exclaimed.

"A week!" James repeated his voice quieter but still cold. "Go to your room."

Kim fumed and then swam off.

James rubbed his forehead. Anne sighed. "This is very serious." She said to her husband.

James looked at his wife. "Do you think I was too hard on her?"

"No," Anne said. "What she did was no small thing."

"I know," James said grimly. "Well hopefully she won't try anything like that again.

SURFACE

The Sun was setting. King and Queen Stoppable along with their son Prince Ron, the royal pet Rufus and Regent Steve Barkin were eating dinner. The mood was gloomy and quiet.

King Stoppable looked at his son, wondering what to say. "So tell us about this Mermaid again, son?"

Barkin slapped his forehead. "Oh, boy."

Ron scowled at his father. "Does it matter dad? You don't believe me."

Rufus looked up from his dish and glared at the king. "Yeah."

Queen Stoppable hesitated. "Son, we don't believe you would lie to us."

"No, you just think I imagined it." Ron grumbled, taking another bite of his meal.

"Well you almost died, your highness," Barkin interjected. "That can do things to your head."

Ron grumbled, not wanting to talk about it.

"Son, please." King Stoppable said carefully. "Tell us."

"Fine," Ron conceded. "She was like an angel. Well, the human half anyway. She had a great body, lovely face with long red hair, green eyes, and…Well, I didn't get a good look at her tail, but she was a mermaid. That is so badical, right."

"Yes, it is." King Stoppable agreed.

"I wish I knew her name." Ron added almost dreamily.

Queen Stoppable looked at her husband, unsure what to say.

"May I be excused?" Ron asked suddenly.

"You may." King Stoppable said.

Ron got up from the table and looked down at Rufus. "Let's go, Buddy." He said, holding out his hand.

Rufus climbed into Ron's hand, and his owner turned to leave. Wandering the halls, Ron thought of the little mermaid again. She said they could never see each other again.

"I refuse to believe that." Ron declared suddenly. "I'll find her again."

Rufus eyed his owner, wishing he could comfort him.

UNDER THE SEA

Kim lay on her bed, sullen. She knew going to the surface was serious taboo, and her parents were upset with her for doing so But she couldn't help but think that her parents were wrong about the humans. Most of them were probably bad, but the boy she saved was no doubt a good person. She didn't regret saving him. Her only regret was that she could never see him again.

…..

DNAmy was at her cauldron. She conjured up her orb of all-seeing. Images appeared. It showed a concert. On the stage was a familiar blond mermaid singing. The crowd loved her.

"Oh sweet thing. You've come a long way." She smiled.

Flashback

DNAmy took an array of different colored slime and put it in her cauldron. She heard a sound. "Just a minute." She then finished her spell. There was a flash and a plate of sea cookies appeared in mid water.

She took the plate and turned to see her visitor. "Well hello. You're Britina, yes?"

"Yes," Britina said uneasily. "I was told you can make wishes come true?"

"That's right," DNAmy concurred, giving the young mermaid a sickeningly sweet smile. "Cookies?"

"Uh… thanks." Britina said. She took a cookie and munched on it.

"So you wish to be a singer, yes?" DNAmy asked.

"Oh, so you know that?" Britina frowned.

"I'm a sea witch and magic is my hobby. And I use it to help poor unfortunate souls like you with dreams that can't be reached." DNAmy declared.

Britina hesitated.

"Is something wrong?" DNAmy asked kindly.

"Well… please don't be offended." Britina urged.

DNAmy frowned. And then smiled. "You don't wish to be a meanie. That's good. Tell me what troubles you."

"Well, you're a criminal. You got exiled." Britina declared.

"And yet, here you are," DNAmy pointed out. "Well, it's your choice. Do you want me to make all your dreams come true or not?"

Britina hesitated. "I… I do."

"Excellent!" DNAmy squealed and conjured up a shiny golden piece of paper and a pen. "Sign here and I will make you a Starfish."

Britina frowned. "What am I signing?"

"A contract. If you become a starfish, you will owe me a favor. If not, our deal will be void." DNAmy told her.

Britina hesitated. Then she took the pen and signed her name.

DNAmy grinned and turned to her cauldron. She waved her hands. Magic swirled out of the cauldron and surrounded Britina. When it was done, Britina blinked in surprise.

"I don't feel very different." She said softly.

"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it." DNAmy assured the young girl. "This spell will change you gradually. It would look suspicious if you became gorgeous overnight. Within a few weeks, you will become quite the catch." She chuckled at her joke. "And you'll be quite the singer too."

Britina pouted.

"And if you don't get your wish, our deal's off. OK?" DNAmy confirmed.

"OK." Britina said meekly.

Flashback End

DNAmy sighed. "Well it's been a long time, but now she's finally a Starfish. Now it's time for the payoff." She then used another spell.

…..

Britina stepped off stage. Some reporters took out flash shells, taking her image. She smiled shyly. Suddenly she cried out, holding her head.

Suddenly, she glowed brightly. Then, driven by an unseen force, she swam in one direction, knocking merpeople over.

Everyone stared in disbelief.

…

Britina was gasping in terror as she zoomed through the ocean at a frightful speed. Then she slowed down and landed down a watery bottom far, far away.

She panted fearfully as she pushed herself up. "Where am I?"

"Hello sweet thing. How are you?"

Britina looked up in shock. It was the lady octopus, DNAmy. "DNAmy?" She gasped. "What happened? Why am I here?"

"Oh, have you forgotten?" The Sea Witch asked.

"Forgotten what?" Britina frowned.

"Our deal." DNAmy moved closer to the gorgeous blond. "About a month ago, I used magic to give you a lovely singing voice and make you more beautiful then you already were, correct?"

"Yes." Britina said nervously.

"Well, you agreed to do something for me when you became a Starfish, and I say that time is now." DNAmy announced.

Britina grew tense. "Oh, right. So what do you want?"

DNAmy giggled. "According to your contract, you belong to me forever."

Britina stared in horror. "But… but… but that's wrong. I don't belong to you."

"Oh but you do." DNAmy retorted.

Britina cringed. "You can't!"

DNAmy frowned and then pointed. Britina froze. She couldn't move a muscle except for her eyes. The Sea Witch swam closer to the petrified mermaid.

"Now listen dearie, this contract is legal. It said that in exchange for being a Starfish, you would do whatever I say. And you signed my contract with both eyes open."

Britina looked pleadingly at the Sea Witch. It was all the movement she had.

"Now what kind of cuddlefsih should I make you?" DNAmy said thoughtfully. "Oh, I'm sure it will come to me. In the meantime, I think you need a time out."

She turned and swam away, leaving the terrified mermaid with no choice but to think about her fate.

…

To Be Continued

Author note/Behind the Scene

1, Like the pervious chapter, the main plot and subplots were complicated and took a lot of work.

2, I'm not really big on "Love at First Sight". I won't criticize Disney for using this theme in many of their films, but I prefer more complexity and development to a story. I want Kim and Ron to have slower development in their future relationship.

3, well we have seen another stage of DNAmy's career in charity.

4, flash shells and such are a magic/under the seas version of modern technology.