Chapter 17

THE SECOND DAY

The sun shone brightly in the sky over the ocean surface. Fathoms below the City of Middleton, everything was quiet and few had awakened. At the palace, the royal princesses were sleeping soundly in their bed.

Kim then awoke, blinking her green eyes. She looked around her room, her heart heavy. She missed Ron and knew she could never be a part of his world again. She looked at her sisters, who were all still asleep. With a sigh, she got up and headed out of her room.

"Kim." A voice said.

Kim turned to see who spoke and saw Yori sitting up in her bed, eyeing her sister. "I thought you were asleep." Kim stated.

"I was already awake." Yori explained. "Are you alright?"

Kim sighed. "I don't want to talk about it, okay."

Yori frowned.

"Hey, what's going on?" Monique said, looking up from her pillow. "I'm resting here."

The other girls began to awake, wanting to know what's going on.

"I gotta go." Kim snapped and swam out of the room. She swam through a corridor, sullen.

Before long, she reached a balcony. Kim leaned on the balcony rail, looking up toward the sky. The sun above the ocean surface looked like a bright blurry orb, as it usually did. Her thoughts turned to the surface world and all its wonders. She also thought of Ron. She bit her lip, thinking of their friendship, her heart sore.

SURFACE

Regent Barkin took a drink of his coffee and then glanced at Prince Ron, who was eating his breakfast. The teenage prince was nearly finished. The two hadn't spoken much all morning. Clearly, the young man had a lot on his mind.

Ron then finished his food and got up.

"You're going to do your schooling, Stoppable?" Barkin asked.

"Yeah, Regent B." Ron replied before taking off rather quickly.

Barkin sighed, aware of the issue. "That poor kid."

UNDER THE SEA

Kim continued leaning a balcony, looking up toward the sky.

"Kim." Said a voice.

Kim turned and saw Queen Anne swimming towards her. "Mom?"

"You didn't show up for breakfast." Anne pointed out.

"Oh!" Kim exclaimed. "Sorry mom, I guess I lost track of time."

"You have a lot on your mind, don't you?" Anna commented, her blue eyes narrowed.

"Yes." Kim nodded. "Sorry, mom."

"It's okay." The Queen assured her. "We were going to send a servant to fetch you, but your father and I thought it best to let you be."

"Thanks." Kim replied gratefully.

"You can snack on something if you like." Anne offered.

"Thanks, mom." Kim looked into her mother's blue eyes. "Was there anything else?"

Anne grimaced. "Your dad and I need to talk with you."

Kim groaned. "Why?"

"Follow me and then we'll tell you." Anne stated simply.

Kim sighed. "Yes, mom."

Kim followed her mother off the balcony and into a corridor. They made a few turns till the Queen brought Kim her father's office where her father was waiting.

"Kim…" James paused as he considered his words. "I'm been thinking. You like the human boy, don't you?"

Kim scowled. "It doesn't matter. I can never see him again."

Anne grimaced. "Kim, as you know, we have insisted that contact between our world and the human worlds is forbidden."

"I know!" Kim retorted. "I shouldn't have been friends with Ron." She sniffled. "I wish I had never hatched."

"Kim, listen, I…" James said hesitantly. "I'm sorry."

Kim looked surprised. "What? Why are you sorry?"

"Your human friend is a good person, isn't he?" James asked, looking uncomfortable.

Kim frowned. "Yes. He is… was a great friend." She looked down. Then looked up at her father, fearing to hope. "Why?"

"Kim, I've been thinking about what happened yesterday," James answered sadly. "It isn't right to order you to stay away from him."

Kim felt shock and joy surge through her. "We can be friends?"

Yes," The Sea King replied reluctantly. "But I want you to wait 'till tomorrow. Can you wait till then?"

Kim frowned, but kept her temper in check. "Yes." She answered reluctantly.

"This is very hard for us, Kim." Anne interjected softly. "We need time to accept this."

Kim grimaced. She didn't like her parents' reluctance, but knew she should wait and be grateful that she'd got this chance. "Understood."

"You may go, Kim." James told his daughter.

After she left, James and Anne looked at each other.

"So, I guess this is it." Anne concluded.

James frowned. "I'm afraid it's only the beginning."

SURFACE

Ron was doing his schooling, which would prepare him to be King of his nation. He never really liked school. In fact, he hated it. He didn't look forward to being king either, but he had to. It was his responsibility.

Regent Barkin entered the room. "So, how's your schooling, Stoppable?"

"Boring." Ron frowned.

Barkin frowned and took the paperwork, eyeing it. "Pretty good, considering."

"Good to know. Can I have lunch now?" Ron asked.

"Of course, Stoppable." Barkin replied simply.

"Booyah!" The Young Prince exclaimed excitedly. Suddenly, the orb he kept with him glowed. "Wow."

"What the blazes?!" Barkin exclaimed in surprise.

The orb levitated in the air and the face of a man appeared.

"King Possible?" Ron said in surprise.

"Prince Stoppable." The Sea King began solemnly. "Will you be available tomorrow?"

"Uh…" Rom stammered, unsure of the question. "Available for what, your highness?

"To go to the sea tomorrow at noon and meet me." King Possible told the human prince.

"Oh, yes. I mean, I hope so," Ron said, looking at Regent Barkin. "That's okay, right?"

"What is going on here, Stoppable?" Barkin demanded.

"I'm receiving a summons from Kim's father." Ron answered. "So can I respond to it tomorrow?"

"Yes but who is this?" Barkin asked.

"I'm King Possible of Middleton." The Sea King told the human Regent.

"Nonsense!" Barkin said in stunned disbelief.

King Possible's face in the orb scowled. "Humans." He looked towards Ron. "I wait for you, human prince."

"I'll be there." Ron assured the Sea King.

"Good. Then I bid you farewell." The orb stopped glowing and slowly floated down to the floor.

"That is so unbelievable." Barkin said uneasily.

Ron picked up the orb and smiled. "Booyah." He whispered happily.

Barkin glared at Ron. "You weren't kidding last night, were you?"

"Kidding about what exactly?" Ron asked, having a memory lapsed of yesterday.

"Your friend being a mermaid and all."

Ron smirked. No, I was very serious."

Barkins grimaced. "This is too much."

For a long moment, no one said anything. "You alright Regent B?" Ron asked.

Barkin cleared his throat. "Yes. You better get back to your schooling."

"Uh…I finished." Ron stated irritably.

"Oh, right," Barkin replied awkwardly. "Then go…have lunch."

"Hmmm," Ron murmured and looked at his pouch. "You ready for lunch, buddy."

Rufus poked his head out of the poach. "MMMH, lunch."

"Well got to go, bye Regent B." Ron turned and left the classroom.

Barkin just groaned, still perplexed with his revelation.

UNDER THE SEA

It was around noon. The Possible Family was enjoying a quiet lunch. There was very little interaction. The mood was ominous. King and Queen Possible knew they were swimming through cold waters. Kim was impatient, wishing to see Ron now, but knew she was too wait 'till tomorrow. Yori, Bonnie, Tara, Zita, Monique and the twins were quiet, careful not to start a problem.

James then looked at Kim. "Kim."

"Yes, dad?" The redhead asked.

James sighed. "As you know, I… used to view all humans as evil. But do you know why I believed that?"

Kim frowned. "You believe they would destroy our world."

"What do you know about your grandfather?" James inquired.

"He died before I was born." Kim shrugged.

"Did you know how he died?" James asked grimly.

"It was an accident on the… surface." Kim's eyes then widened in realization.

Tim, Jim and the others stared at their father in horror. "Grandfather was killed by humans?" Monique asked sadly.

"Yes," James eyed his Monique with cold angry eyes. "This story starts in the time of my grandfather. Your great grandfather was King James the First. In that time, travel to the Surface wasn't forbidden, just not encouraged. My father was Prince James the II at the time. Like you Kim, my father was free spirited and adventurous. He married your Nana, and a decade later, I was born, along with your aunts and uncles. When I was a little younger then you, my father, with some friends of his, went to a party near an island on the Surface. Later, one of my father's friends returned with terrible news. Human pirates were in the area and had attacked. My father was among the dead."

"Oh my." Zita whispered, troubled by this news.

Tim and Jim looked at each other grimly, troubled by this story.

"That's why you always forbade me to go the surface." Kim commented grimly.

James sighed. "I was deeply upset about losing my father. My grandfather took it hard, too. He then gave the order forbidding our kind from traveling to the surface. My mother agreed with my grandfather's policies, and of course when my grandfather died, I became king and enforced, partly because I promised my Grandfather and partly to keep my people safe."

The princesses and princes threw uneasy glances at each other. Queen Anne looked intensely at Kim. "I was always afraid that what happened to my father-in-law would happen to you, Kim when you went to the surface."

Kim grimaced, imagining that possibly.

"So Kim, can you understand why this is so hard for us?" Anne Possible asked hopefully.

"Yes." Kim grimaced, imagining the fear and loss her father suffered.

King Possible straightened up. "Well moving on. Kim, I want you to come with me."

"Yes, dad." Kim frowned. Why?"

"Just come." James said, ignoring the question.

Kim pouted but obeyed.

…

A bunch of merfolk stood before the castle. One of them was Master Sensei. He stroked his beard, wondering what his king's announcement was.

On a balcony, King Possible swam into view and stared down at his subjects. Behind him stood his wife, Queen Anne and his daughter, Kim, and a few solders. One of them moved an orb before the king.

"Mer-folk of Middleton," King Possible said, the orb amplifying his voice. "From this day forth, some things are going to be different. Yesterday, the Sea Witch DNAmy took me prisoner and got a hold of my Trident."

The crowd gasped in horror, but at the same time, wondering how their king could be alright.

"My life was saved by a human from the surface." King Possible continued.

A stun silence followed. The Mer-folk couldn't believe what they were hearing. A human saved their king? It was unthinkable.

"It has forced me…to re-evaluate my views and our laws." King Possible then grimaced. This was really hard. "This human is a prince of the surface world. So I decided my daughter Princess Kim will be representative of our kingdom to this human ruler."

"What?" Kim exclaimed, staring at her father in stunned disbelief.

James looked intensely at his daughter, signaling her to wait. Below the crowd was equally perplexed. James then resumed speaking to the crowd. "But though things will change, I urge you all to be cautious. Just because this human is our friend doesn't mean they're all safe."

A long silence followed.

"That will be all." King Possible finished and then turned to leave.

The Mer-Folk crowed began to disperse. Master Sensei continued to float thoughtfully, impressed.

"Things are certainly changing." He mused.

….

Kim tried to maintain her excitement as she followed her parents off the balcony. "So I can see Ron?"

"Tomorrow." King James reminded her sternly. "You need to be patient, Kim."

Kim scowled but didn't argue. "Yes, dad." She answered obediently.

Suddenly, a servant swam up to them. "Your highness, a friend of Princess Kim is here."

"Wade?" Kim guessed.

"Yes. He is waiting in the dining hall." The guard nodded.

Kim sighed. "Thank you." She looked at her parents.

"Is everything alright, Kimmi cub?" Anne asked her daughter.

"Wade's upset with me for swimming and away and such." Kim explained. "He still doesn't know the whole story."

"Oh right," James recalled that Wade had been out of the loop. "You better tell him everything, Kim."

"Yes," Kim conceded before she swam off to meet her friend.

She made a few turns. She soon reached the dining hall. Wade was sitting in a chair, scowling.

Kim felt fear and guilt. "I take it you want an explanation for where I was the past few days?"

"Yeah," Wade stated angrily. "You visit a human behind my back for who knows how long, and then you go off to make a deal with a madwoman and just leave without saying goodbye? How could you do that to me?"

"Your right Wade." Kim conceded. "I was a fool and I'm sorry."

Wade grimaced. Swallowing his anger, he kept his voice calm. "So how did you become friends with that human exactly?"

"Do you remember when I rescued a human from drowning over a year ago?" Kim asked.

Wade stared at his friend in surprise. "That human you've been visiting was the same one you saved?"

"Yes and his name is Ron." Kim bit her lip before continuing. "Anyway, I told him we couldn't be friends but he didn't give up trying to find me. I ran into him over a week ago. He wanted me to be his friend and… well, I agreed."

Wade glared at the young Princess. "And you didn't tell me?"

"Sorry, Wade. I… I was afraid what you would say or do if I told you."

"You thought I tell your Dad?" Wade asked coldly.

"Or something." Kim clarified. "If I told you that I was visiting a human, would you be fine with it?"

"No." Wade conceded. "But you shouldn't have kept it from me. And going to see DNAmy? What were you thinking?"

Kim grimaced. "I wasn't."

"Obviously." Wade growled. "I heard your father's speech. So you're going to be spending time with this human, right?"

"His name is Ron." Kim reminded the irate mer-boy.

"Whatever." Wade grumbled. "So he's your new best friend, right?"

Kim became indignant. "Wade! Come on, we're friends."

"Are we?" Wade demanded coldly. "Would a friend just run off and abandon me the way you did?"

Kim sighed in defeat. "I'm sorry, Wade. Your right, I treated you badly."

"You sure did." Wade retorted.

Kim was getting fed up with this. "Does this mean you don't want to be my friend anymore?"

Wade froze, startled by that. "No, I…" He sighed. "I do want us to be friends, Kim. But how can I trust you after you all this?"

"Your right, Wade." Kim agreed. "Will you give me a chance to regain your trust?"

Wade swallowed. "Sure. But I need time to work through this."

"Okay." Kim conceded. "Do you want to do something tonight?"

"I'd like us to eat out like we've done before." Wade suggested.

"I'd like that too." Kim replied, anxious to heal her friendship with Wade. "Tonight?"

Wade smiled. "Sounds good."

SURFACE

Ron was strolling down the beach, his eyes constantly staring at the ocean. Rufus head stuck outside the poach opening, also viewing the scenes. Ron then sighed and sat down.

"Well Kim, tomorrow is the big day." He declared.

Rufus looked up at his master and then the ocean. Then he chirped a question.

"Yeah, I miss her, Rufus," Ron replied.

Rufus moaned sympathetically.

UNDER THE SEA

The royal family was having dinner. Wade was their guest and sat next to Kim. The mood was mostly fine.

"Like us, humans use animals for food, and it's nothing like fish." Kim explained. "Also, they have a food called bread."

"Bread?" Tara asked. "What is that?"

"It…" Kim paused as she tried to find the words. "I don't know what it is exactly. I know is that it's soft, dry, but very delicious,"

"Dry but delicious?" Bonnie asked, frowning.

"That's unbelievable sis." Monique commented.

"I know, but it's true." Kim insisted. "Also, they have… things that can heat water."

Wade shrugged. "So they do have magic."

"That's not the word they used." Kim corrected him. "I don't really understand it, but I don't think it's magic."

"Well, tomorrow you can ask." Wade commented.

"I will." Kim nodded.

"Can we be excused, Dad?" Zita asked, having finished her meal.

"And me!" Tara and Bonnie added.

"Sure." James Possible told his daughters.

The girls departed.

"So, what else do humans have?" Monique asked Kim.

"Well, they have trees," Kim said. "They're a type of plant. They are solid like coral, but are not coral. And their tops wave in the wind, almost like seaweed."

"Interesting." Yori commented.

"Well, I've got to go." Wade added.

"You're leaving?" Anne Possible asked in surprise.

"I've got to get home your majesty." Wade replied respectfully. "Thanks for inviting me."

"You don't want to spend the night?" Kim asked, becoming forlorn.

"Sorry Kim, I can't." Wade said, his tone civil but full of reluctance. "Goodbye."

"Bye." Kim replied, her face grim.

"Bye." Wade told the rest of the royal family who in turn bid him a fond farewell.

Wade turned and swam off, and a long silence followed. James looked at Kim. "You alright, Kimmie guppy?"

Kim sighed. "I was just hoping Wade would stay the night."

Yori looked up and gave Kim a hard look. "He's probably just upset."

Kim looked up at Yori. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you did disappear and worried us sick." "Yori reminded her coldly.

"Yori!" Anne retorted.

"I mean no disrespect, mom," Yori insisted. "But she asked what I think."

Anne sighed while Kim grimaced.

Tim looked at his sister sympathetically. "Give him time, Kim."

"Yeah, that's all he needs." Jim added with equal sympathy.

Kim sighed.

"Your brothers are right Kim," James concurred. "We all need time."

"Yes, dad." Kim conceded. She wished things between her and Wade could go back to the way they used to be.

SURFACE

It was late in the evening. Ron was in his room, sulking. A solder entered.

"Ron, your parents are here." The soldier announced.

"Oh, great." Ron murmured. Getting to his feet, he followed the solder through the corridors. Exiting the castle, he saw his mother and father up ahead.

"Mom, dad!" Ron exclaimed, speeding up and running over to his parents.

"Ron!" The Queen and King said, hugging their teenage son.

"So how are you doing, son?" King Stoppable asked.

"Pretty well." Ron answered with a shrug. "Actually, I have to be somewhere tomorrow."

"Really." Queen Stoppable asked. "Where?"

"I'm going to meet Kim's father tomorrow." Ron answered.

"Kim?" King Stoppable asked, not understanding. "Who is Kim?"

"She's a friend." Ron started to hesitate. "Look, I'm going to meet her father tomorrow. We have… things to discuss."

King Stoppable adjusted his glasses. "Really? Like what?"

"It's… hard to explain, dad." Ron stammered. "Look, how about you just meet them tomorrow? Then you'll understand."

King Stoppable frowned. "Very well, Ron."

"Thanks, dad." Ron said, trying to smile. "So, how was your trip?"

"Fine." Queen Stoppable answered slowly. "What happened with you and your friend, Kim?"

"I think it's best if you meet her first." Ron insisted. "Trust me."

The King and Queen looked at each other.

"Okay." King Stoppable conceded.

"Great. Now tell me more about your trip." Ron suggested.

The King and Queen hesitated. "Maybe another time."

"Yeah, your mother and I are tired from our trip." The King added.

"Okay." Ron said. "Good night, then."

"Good night, son." The King replied.

As Ron turned to leave, King Stoppable fiddled with his glasses, troubled.

"Our son seems different." Queen Stoppable said.

"Agreed," King Stoppable replied. "I guess it has to do with his friend, Kim."

…

Barkin was in a room, reading a book. He heard the sound of a door opening and turned to see Queen Stoppable enter.

"Your highness." He exclaimed, putting the book down. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here to talk about my son." She answered her voice cold.

"Oh, boy." Barkin rubbed his forehead. "What's he done now?"

"Nothing." Queen Stoppable replied. "But something happened to him while my husband and I were away."

Barkin grimaced. "What did he tell you?"

"That we should wait until tomorrow." Queen Stoppable clarified. "Do you know what's going on?"

"Not exactly." Barkin answered.

"What does that mean?" Queen Stoppable asked, her voice cold.

"Look, I don't normally say this, but your son is right, you should wait until tomorrow." Barkin told his queen.

Queen Stoppable sighed. "Very well."

"Anything else, your highness?" The regent asked, trying to be respectful.

"No." The Queen relented. "Well good night."

"Good night." Barkin replied and sighed. "Boy, tomorrow's going to be a strange day."

….

To Be Continued

Author Note. I hope you like this continuation. I pondered giving James a back-story to hate humans. I thought of the film, Ariel's Beginning and decided to do a variance of what Disney did.

As for the subplot with Wade being angry at Kim, I thought of it and concluded that broken trust hurts and forgiveness isn't easy to give. That's why there is a lot of baggage between him and Kim.

There isn't much to say about Ron's subplot. I just didn't think it be right to have him not be in this chapter.