7 Chapter A Year Later
….
SURFACE
Kim floated on the surface, smiling. The lack of water on her face was an interesting sensation. The sun shone brightly down on the peaceful ocean surface. She turned and felt a chill when she noticed a rowboat on the horizon.
"I mustn't be seen!" She dived back below, out of side.
On the horizon, Ron was in the rowboat, about a mile from his castle. Rufus stood on top of the boat's edge, eying the smooth water in wonder. Ron looked down at the water below. There was nothing to see. He didn't expect to see anything, but he refused to give up.
"Well here we go again." He took a few rocks and dropped them in the water. "I wonder how big the pile down below is."
"Hmm." Rufus shrugged, not knowing anything about the ocean depths.
Ron sat in the boat quietly and waited. He was sure the little mermaid wouldn't come today. But he would still hope.
….
DNAmy was experimenting on a potion and sighed. "This magic is excellent, but it only works on consenting beings. When I lived in the palace, I had the resources necessary to perform unique magical spells that could alter any creature however I pleased."
Suddenly a moray eel swam in, followed by a young mer-boy with dark hair, light green skin and a black fishtail.
"Well hello sweetie," DNAmy said with a smile. "Who might you be?"
The boy scowled. "My name is Gil, and I'm not a sweetie."
DNAmy smile became forced. "Well whatever you are, you're certainly rude."
"Look, I didn't come here to be polite," Gil snapped. "I'm here because Monty Eel here said you could help me."
"OK, what's your problem young man?" DNAmy asked.
Gil sighed. "Here's my problem. There are a lot of losers who make my life difficult."
"Really? So they pick on you?" DNAmy frowned.
"No, they just don't give me the respect I deserve," Gil said simply. "Look, the point is, I need a way to deal with these kids. So can you help me or not?"
DNAmy eyed the boy, fiddling with her glasses. "Well, what do you want?"
Gil hesitated, trying to find the words. "Can I be taller and stronger?"
"Child's play." DNAmy said dismissively.
"You can do more?" Gil asked, looking excited.
"I can give you strength, speed, and how about the ability to transform so you can do naughty things without getting caught?" DNAmy offered.
Gil grinned, rubbing his hands. "Oh, this is going to be good. When can we start?"
"Right now." The witch then slapped her head. "Oh, I forgot something."
"What?" Gil asked, scowling.
"You have to get me a pink sea flower." DNAmy grinned.
"No problem." Gil said dismissively.
DNAmy then conjured up a golden scroll with strange writing.
"How did you do that?" Gil's eyes widened in shock.
"Just some magic I have perfected over the years, young man." DNAmy said proudly. "Now just sign it, and the abilities I proposed will be yours."
Gil smiled and signed the contract, which then vanished. DNAmy smiled. "Now, let's begin." She headed to a cabinet and took out some materials, bringing them to her Cauldron. "A little of this, and a piece of that..."
Gil scowled, unimpressed.
"Now for the final touch." The Sea Witch raised a hand and pointed towards Gil.
Mystical energy came out of the cauldron and surrounded the merboy. "Hey what's happening?" He exclaimed
The merboy glowed and transformed. He became a foot taller and was slightly muscular, his face was very different and his tail was blue. When the glowing stopped, Gil examined himself and grinned. "Oh, boy." He smirked, examining his arm and posing.
"And remember, you can transform, so you change back to your original form." DNAmy reminded him. "Try it out."
Gill examined his reflection. His features morphed to his shorter, more familiar form. "Oh this is good." He grinned.
"Exactly," DNAmy said. "Now you can be the big bad boy getting into all types of mischief, and then you can become your typical boring self and no one will know better."
Gil grinned. "Oh yeah. I'm going to have a good time."
"Good for you," DNAmy said with a smile. "Now remember, get me a pink flower before three days have passed, and you can keep my gift forever. If you don't, you belong to me."
"Wait, what?" Gil exclaimed. "I never agreed to that."
"Actually you did," DNAmy said, conjuring up the contract again and pointing to a segment. "By signing it, you agreed."
Gil hesitated. "So if I get you a pink flower before three days pass, I don't belong to you."
"Actually before the sunset on the third day," DNAmy clarified. "I suggest you hurry."
"Right." Gil said uneasy and turned and swam out.
Monty eyed the poor fool contemptuously. "Pink Sea Flowers don't grow this time of the year."
"Of course not," DNAmy said with a shrug. "But if he doesn't know botany, is that my fault?"
Monty sighed. He didn't really care about the fools he, Drakken and Shego lured to their employer. But he hated that he could only speak and act within DNAmy's will.
…
Kim entered the palace. A guard saw her. "Kim, your parents wish to speak to you."
"OK." Kim said.
Entering the main hall where her parents were.
"Kim, where were you?" King James said.
"Just out for a swim." Kim said casually.
"Where?" Queen Anne asked.
Kim looked uneasy. "Just… in the drop off."
Anne and James became concerned. Kim was never good at lying and it was clear she was holding back something important.
"Did you go up to the surface again?!" James asked sternly.
Kim shrugged it off. "So not the drama, Dad. It's not like anything happened."
James tried to stay calm, but he was very frustrated. "Kim, we've been over this a hundred times! You know that it's against the rules to go to the surface world. You could've been seen by those humans!"
"We're just trying to look out for you," Anne said reasonably. "We don't want to see our daughter to be caught on some human's hook."
Kim began to get frustrated. Her parents, especially her father, always set rules for her to follow, which often made her feel like she was still a little mer-girl.
"Newsflash! I'm sixteen years old. I'm not a baby anymore!"
Kim's outburst only made her dad even angrier. "Don't you take that tone of voice with me young lady," James snapped. "As long as you live under these oceans, you will obey my rules!"
"If you would just listen for one min-" Kim started.
"I don't want to hear another word out of you, Kim." James snapped angrily. "And I better not hear anything, ANYTHING about you going up to the surface again! Do I make myself clear?!"
There was a shocked silence. King Possible rarely raised his voice to anyone, especially to his own children.
Kim's face began to redden in anger as she blinked away the tears that were quickly coming to her eyes. Overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions, Kim turned away from her family and swam out of the room.
James sighed.
"Oh dear." Anne said softly.
James looked at his wife. "I just can't understand why she would go to the surface."
Anne frowned. "Well Kim is an adventurer, obviously. And the surface is admittedly a place to explore."
"But it's dangerous." James insisted. "What if she got caught by one of those humans?"
"I agree." Anne said. "But teenagers tend to assume they can take care of themselves."
James sighed. "Yeah. Its bad enough she likes human objects that fall into the sea. But I won't tolerate her going to surface."
"Agreed." Anne said.
…
King Stoppable walked down the corridor and approached a door. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and entered. Ron was on his bed, playing with Rufus.
"Dad?" Ron exclaimed in surprise when he saw his father.
"Hmm." Rufus said.
"Son, I'm… I'm worried."
Ron scowled. "Dad, all I did was take boat out at sea. That was it."
King Stoppable eyed his son uneasily. "You were trying to find that mermaid again, weren't you?"
"I just went boating Dad." Ron insisted. "It's no big deal."
King Stoppable hesitated. Then he sighed. "As long as it doesn't get in the way of your responsibilities, it's fine."
"Got it, dad." Ron assured him. "Anything else?"
"Just one." King Stoppable said. "What's happening tonight?"
Ron hesitated, having a memory lapse.
"The Foreign Diplomacy Ball." King Stoppable said.
"Oh, right." Ron said, recalling now. "You want me to be there."
"And groomed." King Stoppable reminded him. "I don't want you being sloppy."
"Got it dad." Ron assured his father.
"And your pet can't be there either." King Stoppable added.
Rufus scowled.
"Understood, Dad." Ron confirmed, looking at Rufus. "I'll make it up to you, buddy. How about some cheese?"
Rufus brightened up, his previous anger gone.
….
Kim swam across the seabed. The water had a darker tone due to the sun setting above. Before long, Kim reached a cave, a rock covering the entrance. Looking around to make sure she wasn't followed, she moved the rock, and went inside.
There were assortments of strange objects scattered inside the cavern: pots, vases, watches, chests, jewels, chains, and many other things.
Kim sat on a rock, eying the items she had collected over the years. She recalled how, not long ago, she had started collecting human items and brought them to the palace. Her parents weren't pleased. Her parents' rule was not to bring human things into the palace. Well, this place was on the outskirts of the city. It was an effective way to have a human collection without breaking her parents' rule. She enjoyed collecting human relics. She also enjoyed being surrounded by them. It made her feel like she was part of that amazing world.
"Are you okay, Kim?" A voice asked.
Kim gasped in surprise and turn to see who it was. "Oh, hi Wade." She said with a sad smile.
The mer-boy rubbed the back of his neck, considering his words carefully. "You sure you don't want to talk about it?"
I appreciate the help, Wade. It's just that…" Kim paused and sighed deeply. "I wish I could make my Dad understand. We just don't see things the same way." She extended her arm and pointed at her collection of human things. "How can a world that makes all of this cool stuff be so bad?"
Wade shrugged. He did agree the human world was interesting… from a distance. But besides being impossible to go to, the stories he had heard about humans were creepy. "I'm sure there are good things on the surface." The mer-boy conceded. "But we can't go to live on the surface anymore than humans can live in the sea."
Kim sighed. Wade swam closer and touched Kim's arm. Kim looked up and smiled at her friend.
"It's getting late, KP." Wade said.
Kim sighed. "I better get back before my dad wonders where I am."
"Good idea." Wade said.
The two mer-folk left the cave.
…
Kim through the city with Wade not far behind. "You'll be alright, Kim?" Wade asked.
"Sure," Kim grumbled. "Bye, Wade."
"Bye." Wade said, turning to head home.
Kim went down a street, and then reached the palace entrance. She passed a guard as she entered, and made her way through a corridor. She made another turn, when suddenly a female servant swam up to her.
"Your highness, Prince Jim and Prince Tim wish to see you." The servant announced.
"Oh, great," Kim groaned. "What do the Tweebs want?"
"I don't know." The servant said. "They're in the concert hall."
"OK, thanks," Kim said before swimming off, still in a bad mood.
Before long, she reached the concert room. The royal Tweebs were near the stage. And so were Yori, Bonnie and Monique, who were sitting nearby.
"Hey," Kim said, waving. "What's the sitch?"
"Our brothers want to listen to us sing." Monique said.
"What?" Kim exclaimed, not believing what she heard.
"They're planning on doing a concert," Bonnie said crossly. "They think we make excellent singers, but only one of us gets to be the star."
Kim scowled at Bonnie. Her sister tended to rub her the wrong way. Just then, Tara arrived. "I was told you wanted to see me." She said softly.
"Our brothers want to hear us sing." Yori answered.
"Sing?" Tara asked, her eyes narrowed in wonder.
"Yeah." Tim said.
"We think you could be our singers, though only one will be the star." Jim said.
Tara looked at her sisters while grasping her blond hair nervously. The she looked at her brothers. "Uh, thanks."
Just then Zita arrived. "So, what's up, bros?"
"They want to hear us sing." Kim said.
"Sing?" Zita asked, frowning.
"Well my brother and I have been thinking of being composers." Tim said.
"So we think an orchestra staring all of you will upstart our careers." Jim said.
"As if." Bonnie scowled.
"I think it's a great idea." Monique said.
"I agree." Yori said. "We could be great."
"But one of you will be the star." Tim said.
"What do you mean?" Zita asked.
"Five of you will be the chorus." Jim explained.
"And the other will sing a solo song." Tim completed.
"So which of us gets to be the star?" Monique asked.
"We'd like to hear each of you sing a song." Tim said.
"Then we'll decide." Jim finished.
Bonnie scowled. If anyone deserved to be the star, it was her.
"So let's started." Jim told the girls.
"We'll start with you, Tara." Tim said, looking up at the blond teenager.
Tara swam onto the stage and looked at her brothers. "So, what do I do?"
"Just sing any song you like," Jim said.
"For now, we just need to determine who sings the best." Tim added.
"OK." Tara said. Taking a deep breath, she sang a song she enjoyed.
One by one, each sister got a chance. Monique was the last.
Tim and Jim smiled. "Very good, sisters." Jim said.
"You all sang very well." Tim said
"So which of us gets to be the lead singer?" Bonnie asked.
Tim and Jim glanced at each other. "We need time to consider it." Jim said.
Some of you were very unique." Tim added..
Who was unique?" Zita asked.
"No more questions." Tim said.
"We'll tell you who our star is tomorrow." Jim said.
The royal twins turned to leave while the royal princesses looked at each other.
"So who among will be their star?" Tara asked.
"It's obviously me." Bonnie said.
"Yeah, right." Zita retorted sarcastically.
"It's not all about you, Bonnie." Kim said, her eyes narrowed.
"But it's all about you." Bonnie said, glaring at her younger sister.
"Girls, stop." Yori said. "This isn't right."
Kim pouted. "I suppose you think they'll pick you."
Yori hesitated. "I hope they'll pick me."
"Because you're so special." Bonnie retorted.
"Give your ego a rest, Bonnie." Monique countered. "We all want to be chosen. Nothing wrong with that. And we should be happy for the one who gets chosen, right?"
"Because that person is you." Bonnie said coldly.
"Hey!" Monique snapped.
Yori's eyes became cold. "Bonnie, Monique wouldn't show us up like that and you know it."
"Well, I've got to go," Kim said, swimming away from this nonsense.
The five other sisters threw glances at each other.
"Well, bye." Tara said, turning to leave as well.
"I gotta go too." Yori said, turning to leave while Zita, Monique and Bonnie also departed without a word.
SURFACE
It was a fancy ball at the castle. Ron frowned. Royal balls had ups and downs. The food was usually great. But this was where he couldn't be himself. He had to have good manners, dress nicely, and do other boring things. Things that rattled his inner Ronness. Worse, he couldn't bring Rufus with him.
"Prince Ron." A voice shouted.
Ron turned and saw Regent Barkin coming towards him. "What is it, Barkin?"
"You should get out more, Stoppable." Barkin declared.
"Seriously?" Ron asked grimly.
"You're a prince." Barkin said sternly. "You need to get out more."
Ron sighed. "Fine." He looked around. There were various people present. Most he knew, but he didn't know who to approach.
"Let me." Barkin said, grabbing Ron and moving across the ball room. Barkin then brought his young charge toward two people.
One was a middle-aged man in a fancy robe. Next to him was a young girl.
"Greetings, Emperor Nakasumi," Barkin said.
The man called Emperor Nakasumi whispered something to the girl next to him.
"Emperor Nakasumi wishes to give you his greetings too." The girl said.
"Sorry." Ron said perplexed. "Who are you and what just happened?"
Barkin frowned. "That's what I like to know? Who are you?"
"My apologies." The girl asked softly. "My name is Miss Kyoko. I'm a translator for my master."
"Why?" Ron asked.
"My master understands your language, but he has trouble speaking it," Kyoko explained. "I do it for him."
"Why can't he just say it?" Barkin asked.
Nakasumi then whispered something to his female translator.
"He says his condition is personal and he doesn't wish to discuss it." Kyoko said softly.
Barkin sighed.
Ron eyed Kyoko. She was pretty. He knew Barkin wanted him to get out more. He might try with her.
"I was wondering if you might like to spend time with me." Ron asked.
Nakasumi suddenly cringed and then whispered something to his young translator.
"Nakasumi is honored with your request Prince Ron, but he will have to decline." Kyoko declared.
"What?" Ron exclaimed in horror. "No I wasn't talking to-."
Nakasumi then raised a hand and then whispered something to Kyoko.
"My master needs a drink and must go." Kyoko declared.
As the emperor and his translator left, Barkin rubbed his forehead, annoyed with the awkward development.
"I need some air," Ron said, turning to leave.
Barkin watched the prince go. "Poor kid. That was embarrassing."
Exiting the castle, Ron looked out toward the ocean. He thought of the mermaid that saved his life last year. He wished he could meet her again.
UNDER THE SEA
DNAmy waited outside her cave. She looked up at the ocean surface. It was dark, indicating that the sun had set. It wouldn't be long now.
There was a swooshing sound. Up ahead was a glowing light. Then an object came up to the witch and the light surrounding it vanished. It was Gil.
"What's going on? What did you do?" He blinked and panted.
"Oh, remember our deal, sweet thing?" The Sea Witch asked softly. "You had to bring me a pink flower before the sun set on the third day. Three days are up."
"But Pink Flowers don't bloom this time of year!" Gil snapped. "How can I bring you one?"
"Oh dear." DNAmy shook her head. "Well that's unfortunate. Well a deal is a deal."
"You can't do this to me!" Gil snapped.
"Actually I can." DNAmy conjured up the magic contract and held it up. "You signed it, and now you belong to me."
Gil panicked and tried to swim away. DNAmy raised her right hand and Gil froze in mid swim.
"Naughty, naughty."
Unable to escape, Gil panicked. "Please, give me more time!"
DNAmy pretended to think it over. "Time's up, sweetie."
"NOOO!" Gil screamed as he was surrounded by a golden light. He began to change and grow. Where once there was a merboy, there was now a mutant shark. Larger than any normal shark with green skin, spike-tipped fins, and red eyes. Black slime covered his body.
"What have you done to me?!" He snarled and charged at DNAmy, but was again stopped.
"Now now, my sweet thing." The Sea Witch chided softly. "You belong to me, and you're not allowed to bite the hand that owns you."
"You horrible, ugly woman!" Gil shouted. "When I get…" He froze, his voice gone.
DNAmy scowled. "Now listen here! I won't tolerate such bad manners from an ingrate like you. You should be thanking me. You're now very unique. You always wanted to be tough, and now you're a terror of the sea."
Gil scowled. He hated what this witch had done to him.
"Now here is the thing, I will give you freedom to roam about, doing what bad boys do best. But when I call you, you will come and do whatever errand I give you. Also, you will not tell anyone about me or how you are what you are and if you try, well my magic will prohibit you from trying."
Gil glared at DNAmy with blood red eyes.
"I see you need to learn some respect," DNAmy said. "I'll return in a few hours."
Gil's eyes widen. He tried to shout, but his voice was still gone, and he could barely move. Before long, DNAmy was out of sight and all Gil could do was futilely struggle against the magic restraining him.
….
On the palace balcony sat Kim was by a rock table, reading a good shell. Outside, the city lights glittered in the dark night. Just then a servant swam in.
"Your highness, you are called to the throne room."
"OK," Kim said, swimming off the balcony. She eyed her shell, wondering where she could put it, but there was no proper place to put it.
She then swam into the throne room where her sisters were waiting. Her mother and father were in their main thrones with Jim and Tim on the left.
"You arrived, Kim, good." James said approvingly. He eyed his daughters before speaking. "Daughters, my sons, Prince Jim and Prince Tim have a message for you."
"Oh, great." Bonnie murmured irritably.
Monique, Kim and others weren't vocal but were clearly not happy.
"We have chosen a star for our concert." Jim said.
The girls stared in amazement. Then began to talk at once, wanting to know.
"It's Kim." Tim said.
The sisters became silent. Kim stared in amazement while the other sisters (especially Bonnie) pouted, disappointed that they weren't picked.
"The rest of you will be our chorus." Jim explained.
"Chorus?" Zita asked, her arms crossed.
"The rest of you will sing as a group." Tim claried.
"While Kim will sing the solo." Jim said.
"No way." Bonnie said. "If I'm not the Star, I want no part of this."
"Bonnie!" Anne said sharply. "That is very disrespectful."
Bonnie glared at her mother and then noticed that her father was glaring at her too and swallowed.
"Bonnie." James said softly. "Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do. And you're a princess, so you are more accountable than anyone else."
Bonnie fumed but lowered her gaze. "Yes, Daddy."
"So we'll have rehearsals." Jim said.
"In a month, we'll do our first musical début." Tim said.
Kim grew excited while the other sisters swallowed their disappointment that they wouldn't be the star. Monique swam over to Kim and touched her arm. "Congratulations, KP. I'm happy for you."
"No big." Kim said softly.
"No, it's very big," Zita said earnestly. "I really wanted that role."
"Yeah we all wanted this role, Kim." Monique agreed. "You're very lucky."
"OK, it's big." Kim conceded. "No hard feelings."
Except for Bonnie, all the princesses assured Kim it was OK and that they were happy for her.
"Well, you're dismissed." James said solemnly.
The royal sisters swam off, with their brothers not far behind them.
"Well this should be good." James said softly.
"It sure will." Anne said, looking forward to the concert her children were going to perform.
…..
Gil continued to lay helpless and un-moving. He hated his plight. He had been stuck her all night and the morning. First chance he got, he was going to chew up that ugly witch and spit her out.
Just then, DNAmy returned, crawling across the ocean floor, her tentacles gradually pushing and pulling her across the sand.
"Well, hello sweetie." She said with a grin, showing the gap in her teeth. "Have you learned manners yet?" She then raised her hand.
Gil gasped, able to move his mouth again. "I will have my revenge! You're a freak and you always…" He grunted as he lost his ability to move his mouth once more.
DNAmy scowled. "I see you haven't learned manners yet. Well, I can't leave you here all night." She then conjured up a ball. It glowed, shooting lightning out at the mutant shark.
Gil grunted and groaned, then vanished. DNAmy looked at the orb which now contained a miniature Gil. "Well, aren't you the cutest thing." She grinned.
Gil cringed, partly out of fear, partly out of embarrassment.
"Well let's return to my home, it's getting late." DNAmy moved about. Soon, she reached her cave and swam inside.
Drakken and Monty were absent, but Shego was sitting on a shelf, filing her left fin on a shell.
"So, how did it go?" Shego asked dryly.
DNAmy pouted. "He's just a big meanie." She held out the orb and grinned. "So I made him a little meanie."
Shego frowned. "Nice. So you're going to store him with the rest?"
"For now." DNAmy said, heading to the cabinet. "After he learns to be nice, I'll let him go free."
"Free' being a relative term." Shego said with heavy sarcasm.
DNAmy considered that. "Fair point." She then opened her cabinet, which contained orbs full of different types of fish and put Gil down.
"Now don't worry, you little cutie. Once you learn manners, I'll let you go. I won't keep you bottled up like the rest of my collection." She claimed.
Gil cringed, hating his cage.
"Now, you don't have to eat while in the orb. It's magic. But I bet you still like to eat though you don't need to." She then conjured a bunch of sea cookies. "Snack time, my sweeties."
The sea cookies levitated and broke into pieces, then went into the orbs. The imprisoned creatures ate the sweets given to them. Gil munched his, and his spirits lifted a bit.
DNAmy then conjured a new plate of sea cookies and took one. "Would you like one, Shego-poo?"
Shego grimaced, hating the nickname. "Fine."
DNAmy headed the moray a cookie. She took it in her tail and munched it with her long jaws. She smiled slightly. As unlivable as DNAmy was, her cooking was nice.
…
To Be Continued
Author note/behind the scenes.
1, in the discontinued parody, Gil was the shark from the Little Mermaid. I decided to have DNAmy be the reason Gil is a shark.
2, in the in the discontinued parody fic, Tim and Jim are music composers, taking Sebastian the crab's role. I took the idea and wanted made do a whole story to them trying it out and arranging their sisters to be their stars. Of course I want them to be themselves and not be copies of Sebastian.
3, Ron doesn't have a big role in this chapter, but I wanted him to still be looking for Kim while not ignoring his responsibilities. That misunderstanding with the emperor is based on an actual scene from the Kim Possible Series.
Well hope you enjoyed.