A Big Mermaid #Wattys2014

Chapter 5 The royal dungeons

There it was, the royal dungeon of Atlantica. It radiated strength and boasted power with it's 5 staggering towers and sharp, threatening spikes erupting from an enchanted fence surrounding it. The fence that had no door.

Every member of the bloodline (or guards) could effortlessly glide through it without feeling the pain.

Wincing, she sped through the sharp needles that were meant to tear her skin and slice her body into shreds of flesh. Too often people had tried to glide through them, not realising it didn't apply to everyone.

It was then that she was faced with her worst problem. The seahorses. The seahorse guards.

Panicking, she dug herself into the sand as two stone-faced sea horses swam past her with their chests puffed up and noses tilted so they towered over her. Dust clogged her throat and pinched her nose, but she forced herself to bare with it as they were out of sight. Grains stuck to her reddening eyes, releasing burning tears.

Of course, then there came more. More... and even more. That's when she had an idea! She lifted herself out of her hiding place and swam in huge circles, flapping her tail with all her might.

The king, her daddy, could create huge currents, waves and underwater tornados with a flick of his tail. Ariel, however, wasn't king or queen, but she was in line to the throne.

A huge ripple was forming in the water, converting into a mighty current.

"Hey! Look!" Guards came her way.

Taking that as a warning, she pushed herself harder and swam in tighter and fiercer circles. She was forming a mini tornado (she was in the ring of it) so they couldn't see her. It expanded in size and throbbed with power! Whoever tried to break through it bounced right out.

It wasn't easy. Her muscles yearned to stop and she became limp as the water pounded her tired body.

She had to act quickly! She halted to a stop, so the tornado crashed loudly into the sand, sending particles of sand in the air, mixed with thick sea foam and dozens of miniature bubbles. They definatly couldn't see her, but it would end in a few seconds.

Narrowing her eyes, she just about entered inside the dungeons and shut the huge, heavy doors behind her, keeping a chair under the door to lock it. The rusty, copper material clinched together and the noise echoed across the narrow, dimly-lit hallway.

Of course, it was just her luck, there were guards inside too.

What's worst? There was one right in front of her.

She clamped her eyes shut, waiting for something bad.

"My princess, a whirlpool, you are fiery!"

Confused, she dared to open her eyes.

"Well don't look so frightened. Your highness declared you were probably going to come to rescue your friends, and that we should allow you in to see them."

Relief flooded through her, although it did suck that she went through all of that for no reason. It's a wonder her tail was still in tact! Why was life always so bitchy?

"How could he keep Sebastian in here? He loves Sebastian, not that I can see why," she joked.

The guard gave the faintest of smiles.

"That's for you to find out from him. Now, shall I lead the way?"

She nodded, following him tiredly.

After passing through a maze of cobbled hallways and similair paths, they came to Sebastian and Flounder's prison cell, and they were trapped with another mermaid... Who looked almost EXACTLY like her. Too exact for her liking.

Sebastian seemed to be busy in conversation with her look-a-like, but the moment Flounder set eyes on her he raced to her, crashing into the thick, iron bars.

"Ariel!" He squealed.

"Flounder!" she chuckled, managing to wedge a shoulder through the bar to give him a lopsided shoulder pat.

"Have you found a way to get us out?" He chirped excitedly, his chubby face lighting up.

No..." She hesitated, hating upsetting him. "But I will..."

"What's up with Sebastian?" she asked casually. He hadn't once looked at her, he was deeply engrossed in conversation with her, her look-a-like.

Flounder shuffled closer to her ear, dropping his voice so only they could hear.

"Ever since he got here they've been talking and joking around, I don't like it. I don't like it at all."

Neither did Ariel.

"Oh my, it's the royal princess herself!" the red-haired beauty shrieked shrilly, clapping her hands with gusto. "I'm such a fan!"

"Not that I can see why!" Sebastian growled, scuttling towards her." Young lady, do you know 'ow much trouble you have put an old crab like me through!"

Flounder's POV: He didn't like how friendly Ariel's look-a-like was being to her. She was acting so innocent, a complete different girl from the girl he first met.