The Little Mermaid

Chapter Nine

Katara cries on the pier after the wedding ship leaves. She was so close to being with Aang, but some other girl just swooped in and took him from her.

Sokka surfaced after the ship left and saw her crying, "Katara?"

Katara perks up at the familiar voice and turns to her brother. She smiles through her tears as he swims up to her.

"Momo just told me what happened. Are you okay?"

Katara shakes her head as her smile fades. She just realized that she failed... and now she won't ever see her family again.

"Don't worry, Katara. I won't let the sea witch take you." Sokka said, as if he read her mind, "She'll have to kill me before I let her take you."

Katara starts shaking her head. She didn't want her brother to die because of her.

"Don't shake your head at me. I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

Katara smiled, though she couldn't stop crying.

Meanwhile, Bumi flies through the sky around the ship while humming to himself. He stops singing when he hears the bride singing and decides to go check it out.

What a lovely little bride I'll make, my dear
I'll look divine
Things are working out according to my ultimate design
Soon I'll have that little mermaid and the ocean will be mine!

She laughs as she tilts the mirror back up. But her reflection was of Hama.

"The sea witch!" Bumi exclaims before flying off, "Oh no. She's... I gotta..."

He flies into the side of ship. Without taking time to recover, he immediately begins flying to Katara while calling her.

Katara and Sokka look up as Bumi lands, "Katara. I was flying. I wa... of course I was flying. And... I s- I saw that the watch, the witch was watchin' the mirror, and she was singin' with a stolen set o' pipes!" He grabs Pakku and begins shaking the crab, "Do you hear what I'm tellin' you?" He repeatedly slams Pakku on the dock, "THE PRINCE IS MARRYING THE SEA WITCH IN DISGUISE!"

Katara looks at him in surprise as Pakku rubs his head, "Are you sure about this?"

"Have I ever been wrong?" Bumi replied, "I mean when it's important!"

"What are we gonna do!?" Momo asks as Katara stands and looks at the ship heading towards the setting sun.

Katara hears Hama's voice in her head as the sun drops, "Before the sun sets on the third day."

Katara jumps in water but struggles to swim. Sokka quickly goes over and helps steady her.

"Pakku, cut the ropes on those." Sokka ordered, pointing to the barrels.

Pakku does so and Sokka helps Katara onto the barrel. He grabs a loose rope and ties it around Momo, "Momo, get her to that boat as fast as you can."

"I'll try." Momo replies.

Sokka swims over to Pakku and holds out his hand for the crab, "Pakku, you and I will go tell my father. We can't keep this a secret any longer."

"What... What about me? What about ME?" Bumi asks excitedly.

"Find a way to stall that wedding!" Sokka replied, "The prince cannot kiss the sea witch, he has to kiss my sister."

And with that last order, Sokka dove back into the water with Pakku.

"Stall the wedding." Bumi says as he figures out a way to do his job, "Wh... what am I? What?" He gets an idea, "That's it!"

Bumi flies off, cawing as he makes his way around to rally animals and fishes, "Move it! Let's go, we got an emergency here!"