by Eric Vall
“It’s okay, we totally understand,” the blonde reassured her. “You don’t have to say any more right now.”
I’d gotten a little excited from sitting next to Ariana on her bed and talking about the ritual, and I now smoothed my pants and cleared my throat.
“Ahem, Princess Ariana--” I began to speak, but I was interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Who could that be?” the redhead sighed. “Jessamine, I would truly appreciate it if you would answer that for me.”
Since she had her leg armor turned on, my dark-haired wife slowly plodded across the room to the door, and she pulled it open to find a young, anxious-looking palace maid swimming in place.
“I’m not sure now is a good time--” Jessamine started, but the maid pushed past her into the room.
“Your Highness, I truly apologize for the interruption,” the young mermaid began. “But King Liron has returned, and he would like to see you in his chambers immediately.”
Chapter 12
The king was back?
Shit.
“U-Uh, Ariana, you didn’t tell me we were gonna have to meet your dad,” I stuttered.
“Oh, Joe, don’t worry about it,” the mermaid reassured me. “My father is a gentle and kind man. He’s going to love you!”
“Sureeee, whatever you say,” I murmured, and I swallowed hard.
Meeting my girlfriends’ families wasn’t exactly my favorite thing to do, though I wasn’t sure “girlfriend” was the right term for Ariana. In any case, it didn’t look like I had a choice, since the redhead had already gotten up and was now heading toward the door of the chamber. My wives slowly followed, and I braced myself for a moment before I released the switches on my armor and began to swim.
“My father receives guests in the throne room,” Ariana called out over her shoulder, and I could see we were headed down for the first time toward a huge chamber that rested on the seafloor.
As Jessamine swam ahead with Ariana, Cienna pulled me back by my arm.
“Joe, swim slower,” the blonde hissed. “I want to talk to you for a minute.”
“Yeah, there’s a lot going on right now,” I replied in a quiet voice. “Can you believe Ariana wants to--”
“No, that’s not what I want to talk about,” Cienna growled, but then she flashed me a quick smile. “Can you people think of nothing else? I’m actually wondering what the king is going to talk to us about, and whether we can trust him.”
“Well, we are going to be marrying his daughter,” I reminded the blonde princess. “I don’t think we’re obligated to say anything to anyone, but, if you can believe Ariana, and I think we have to, he is fighting Eudora just as hard as we are. Remember the story about how she hypnotized him?”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Cienna admitted with a furrowed brow. “I know I’m suspicious by nature, but we have committed to helping Ariana’s kingdom. And if that’s the case, the king should be our ally. I suppose I’ve seen enough here to believe everyone is telling the truth…”
“I think we might just have to wait and see what the king is like.” I shrugged.
I knew Cienna was raising important issues, but I could think of little else but my jangling nerves about meeting Ariana’s father. As we got closer and closer to the throne room, my stomach wouldn’t stop fluttering, and I gave myself a little pep talk that ran on repeat in my head.
Joe, chill the fuck out.
Cienna and I swam faster to catch up to the other two princesses as they reached a huge pair of doors that rose at least twenty feet high. They were covered in starfish in all colors of the rainbow and surrounded by arches of gleaming white pearls, and Ariana pushed one open and led us into the chamber.
As we swam forward, I was immediately struck by how large the room appeared from the inside. I’d known it was big, but seeing a ceiling that rose five stories high was pretty impressive. From below, I could see the ceiling itself glittered with hundreds of thousands of sparkling shells, and huge white coral columns stretched up to meet it. The floor was equally sparkly and stretched out in front of us for at least five hundred feet, and it was covered only by a thick carpet of red kelp that led toward the rear of the chamber.
I was temporarily distracted by the grand room, so I didn’t immediately notice the enormous throne that sat at its far end or the enormous merman sitting on it.
Ariana hadn’t told us her father was at least ten feet tall, or that he was blue.
I tried not to stare directly at King Liron’s bare torso, but I’d never seen anything like his skin before. It was mostly a deep, navy blue with lighter blue swirls and whirlpools that remained in constant motion. His huge tail was the same shades of blue, green, and gray as the sea itself, and it reflected the glimmering floor beneath him. The effect was totally entrancing, and I had to force myself to raise my eyes to his face.
The merman had thick white hair and a long white beard that reached halfway down his chest, and he wore a spiky gold crown. A gold, jewel-encrusted trident at least fifteen feet long rested against the side of his throne, which was made of brightly-colored coral and accented with pearls similar to the ones that surrounded the doors to the room. The king was surrounded by a dozen guards, who were all holding shell-encrusted shields and wearing gleaming silver swords at their belts.
As I gazed at King Liron, he turned toward me for a moment and made eye contact. I gulped and bent at the waist into a bow, and the huge merman smirked for a moment before he looked away and turned to his daughter.
“Ariana!” the merman boomed. “We have much to discuss! But first, I see you have brought some friends with you…”
“Father, please meet Their Royal Highnesses, Princesses Jessamine and Cienna.” Ariana smiled and inclined her head toward my wives. “The princesses have left their own kingdoms and come under the sea to assist us with the troubles we’ve been having. Jessamine and Cienna, allow me to introduce you to my father, King Liron, who rules everything beneath the waves.”
“Welcome to my kingdom, Your Highnesses,” King Liron said, and his voice was as loud as the crashing of waves on the shore. “Your presence is deeply appreciated, and I hope you will find yourselves at home here.”
Jessamine and Cienna dropped into curtsies, which looked incredibly strange since we were all doing a combination of floating and swimming.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Jessamine replied in the diplomatic tone of royalty. “Princess Ariana has been more than welcoming to us. We appreciate your courtesy, and that of your daughter.”
“And this is?” the king barked and gestured toward me.
“Father… this is Joe,” Ariana explained, and her aqua eyes darted to me and away as she bit her lip. “Joe is the hero who has accompanied the princesses, and he has been working to save our kingdom as well.”
“A hero?” The merman raised one white eyebrow at me.
“It is an honor to be in your presence, Your Majesty,” I said, and I flipped the switch on my armor and dropped to one knee. I wasn’t exactly sure what to do when greeting a king, but the word and gesture seemed to satisfy him, because he nodded briefly before turning back to Ariana.
“Ariana, I hear there has been great trouble in the kingdom lately,” her father said in the incredibly loud voice I now realized was his normal volume. “I am especially concerned about what happened to Marinus, although it is my understanding he is now beginning to recover.”
“Yes, it is concerning, especially since we don’t know how he was attacked,” the redhead replied, and her face tightened into a deep frown. “We know Eudora was behind it, of course, but the exact mechanisms of the poisoning are still unknown.”
“Very disturbing indeed!” King Liron shouted, and I tried not to wince. “But it is fortunate he has been saved. I heard he received an antidote to the poison just in time. How was that achieved?”
“Well, Father,” Ariana replied, “Joe led us on an expedition to the Pirate’s Boneyard, and we were ab
le to find a small vial of potion on a ship called the Serpent’s Curse. Have you heard of it?”
“Ah, yes, the Sea Dragon’s vessel.” The huge blue merman stroked his beard like he was deep in thought before he chuckled, and when he laughed, the whole room shook like an earthquake had just rattled the seabed. “It has been many centuries since I last encountered the Sea Dragon, but I still remember him well.”
Centuries? How long had this merman been alive?
“In any case, Father, Joe was instrumental in saving Marinus,” Ariana told the merman in an earnest voice. “If it hadn’t been for him, we never would have found the antidote, and Marinus…”
She trailed off, and I could tell she was about to cry.
“Yes, Daughter, I understand,” the king responded as his expression sobered. “Marinus is a great man who has been an amazing asset to our kingdom. Tell me, visitors, has Ariana told you his story?”
My wives and I shook our heads, and King Liron gestured for his daughter to speak.
“Well, Marinus was a commoner who grew up in our kingdom,” Ariana began with a smile. “He had very modest beginnings, and he came to work at the palace as a servant at a very young age. He first worked in the stables where we keep our war sharks, but he soon stood out from the other mermen due to his strength and intelligence. He worked his way up the ranks honestly, and he has been my father’s--and my--right hand man for many years.”
“He sounds like a great man,” Jessamine breathed with wide eyes. “I’m so happy we were able to save him.”
“What are your theories on the poisoning, Ariana?” her father asked.
“Well, since he wasn’t subjected to one of Morgar’s attacks that poison the water around our people, I suspect his food supply was compromised,” the redhead suggested. “He admitted to me the security around his home wasn’t as tight as it could have been.”
“Then we will ensure all of our top men only eat meals at the palace from now on,” the king declared, and he looked down at Ariana from under his thick white eyebrows. “You can still ensure the palace gardens are safe, correct?”
“Yes, Father,” Ariana answered with a slight bow of her head. “I have been working as hard as I can to protect our palace, and our people, from the evil forces that threaten us.”
“And that is why I trust you when I am away, my daughter,” King Liron complimented the red-haired princess. “Alongside Marinus, you have more than enough brains and magical talent to rule a kingdom.”
“Thank you, Father,” Ariana replied, and she blushed and smiled at the king’s admiration. “I have been working hard on many things, but I am probably most proud of the magical shield I have constructed around the palace. I used similar magic when we were fighting sharks in the Pirate’s Boneyard, and it was very successful.”
“Ah, yes, you were telling me about what occurred in the Pirate’s Boneyard,” the king said and nodded. “I would like to know more about this potion you found.”
“T-To be honest, Joe found it, really,” Ariana stuttered, and I could tell she was nervous when she was talking to her father about me. “He used the potion to save us from the sharks I mentioned and also as a cure for Marinus. I have never seen anything like it before, and I have been racking my brain for a scientific explanation.”
“Hmmm,” the king pondered as he stroked his long white beard. “What color is this potion?”
“It’s purple, and it comes in a bottle with a golden top,” the redhead told her father.
The king immediately turned and looked me over with his flashing aqua eyes, which reminded me of Ariana’s.
“Daughter, I believe you found something called the Hero’s Potion,” King Liron explained, and even though he was addressing Ariana, he was still looking at me. “However, I’m not sure how you were able to find something that many men have lost their lives trying to possess.”
“I-It was honestly thanks to Joe,” the mermaid princess stammered. “If it weren’t for his magic, Marinus wouldn’t be alive right now. I am planning to have the palace scientists try to study the composition of the potion and see if it can be replicated.”
“I’m not sure that will work,” the king replied to his daughter, but it was apparent his attention was focused on me now. “Joe! Who are you, and how did you get here?”
“U-Um, yes, Your Majesty, I am happy to answer your questions,” I said as I stumbled over my words. I squirmed under King Liron’s intense gaze, but I really wanted to win the giant blue merman over. “I only came to Fairyland recently, but I was told I have been summoned as the hero of legend. I-I don’t really know if that’s true, but we have fought a lot of successful battles recently. And I was honored to find the potion and help save your kingdom.”
“The hero of legend!” he boomed, and now his aqua gaze was laser-locked onto my face. “Please, tell me more about these battles.”
Cienna and I had decided we should trust him, but I wasn’t sure if I should share everything. Nonetheless, when the huge merman king asked me questions, I felt compelled to answer.
“Well, it all started back in Jessamine’s desert kingdom, where she asked the genie to bring her a hero,” I tried to explain. “There were zombies there, and we were able to destroy many of the undead before our final battle with Jamar, the evil wizard, who we conquered. We encountered Eudora the other day, though I guess that wasn’t really a fight…”
I trailed off as the enormous king regarded me. He looked me up and down, and I lifted my chin and straightened my shoulders under his gaze.
“I see,” the king replied and nodded. “Let’s start at the beginning of… Joe’s… story. From my position as ruler of the seas, I am, of course, well-versed in world history. That being said, it is sometimes difficult to know what is myth and what is reality when studying things that take place so far away from my own world. Princess Jessamine, can you tell me more about this genie?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Jessamine replied with a slight bow. “In the desert, the genie is a magical creature who can grant three wishes to whoever holds a magic lamp. My kingdom had been under assault for many years by an evil wizard named Jamar and his undead forces, who were doing the work of a great demon named Chernabog--”
“Ah, so you have heard of Chernabog!” the giant merman boomed. “You are more well-informed than I realized. What do you know of this demon?”
“It’s my understanding he is the driving force behind all the attacks on Fairyland,” Jessamine said with a shudder. “I know our kingdom has suffered for many years due to the actions of this horrible villain, and I believe his intention is to destroy Fairyland as a whole.”
“Yes, I believe your assumptions are correct,” the king agreed. “Chernabog is definitely intent on destroying Fairyland as we know it, and I believe his true intentions are ultimate power over this world. Perhaps it is by killing all innocent citizens and raising them again as his undead followers, or perhaps it is to subjugate us all and force us to live as his slaves. Monsters like Chernabog will not stop until they have achieved total domination. But, I do apologize, Your Highness, I interrupted. Please tell me more about the genie.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Jessamine nodded. “I had gained possession of the lamp, which gave me the ability to make three wishes. I was trying to do the right thing for my kingdom at first, but it was only when I wished for the salvation of Fairyland as a whole that things began to change. What you must understand about the genie is he takes things entirely literally. So, when I wished for a hero to save Fairyland, that is when Joe manifested. I believed in Joe from the beginning specifically because the genie brought him.”
“Very interesting,” the king mused in his thundering tone. “It sounds like this genie could be very powerful. I wonder if it will ever be possible to harness his powers again in our battles. I’d like to address Joe again now. Joe, do you believe you are the hero of legend?”
Well, that was direct. I wanted to put on a brave face, but I
decided to go with the truth.
“I… I don’t know,” I responded honestly. “I would like to say yes, because I have become very invested in the future of Fairyland, and I would like nothing more than to help these princesses and their people. And I have seen things in Fairyland that are so beyond what I ever witnessed back where I came from, I now have to believe at least some of what I have been told is real. And… I would like nothing more than to be the hero of legend, because that would mean I could help Fairyland. But you have to understand how different this all is for me.”
“Where is it you said you came from again?” the king questioned as he stared directly at me with his bright turquoise eyes.
“Um… LA… Los Angeles?” I really wasn’t sure how to explain it. “California? USA? Earth?”
“Hmmm…” King Liron said and stroked his beard. “Interesting.”
The merman was definitely hard to read, and I wondered if I’d passed his test.
“And please, tell me again, Joe, what exactly it is you’ve been up to since you arrived?” he asked after a long moment, and now that fierce gaze was back.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” I said in as respectful a tone as I could muster. “I will try to explain. As Jessamine said, I first arrived in her kingdom during a huge battle. I was called upon to use my strength and the skills I’d acquired back home to fight the zombies. But, to be honest, not much I have done here in Fairyland would have been possible without the support of the princesses. Jessamine was the first one who showed me the possibilities of magic, and my understanding has only grown over the days and weeks I have been here. I have been impressed by all the princesses, and your daughter, Her Royal Highness Ariana, is no exception. Her scientific knowledge and magic skills are incredible.”
I figured a little flattery couldn’t hurt, even though I was telling the truth.
“Yes, I am very proud of Ariana,” the huge blue king replied as he looked down on me impassively from his giant throne. “And tell me, what is your current relationship with Princess Jessamine and Princess Cienna?”
