Sea Creatures

Out of this World

After five minutes of swimming, we found a sign that said Neptunia 1/4 mile ahead, at that point we could see the tall buildings.
"Grandma! You lived in Neptunia?" Marissa asked. "I did a research project on it my sophomore year and failed because my teacher thought it was a so-called make believe city."
"I lived in a small town outside of the city, but yes it is all still Neptunia!" Grandma said.
"You're so lucky!" Mateo said to our mom.
"I don't really remember this place," said my mom.
"We lived on land. And I didn't take you far out when we went into the ocean," Grandma said, "you weren't strong enough at eight, especially since you were half mortal."
"Oh yea, that makes sense," said my mom.
"You see that tall holographic point straight ahead?" Grandma asked.
We all nodded.
"That's King Neptune's grand palace. It's worth billions of sand dollars!" she said.
"Omg! I have to go inside!" Marissa cried.
"Can't. Royalty only. Every once in a while there are events held there that you would have to be formally invited to, but you can get a closer look!" Grandma said. "It'll be the biggest building you'll ever see in your life."
We all started to pick up our pace. We were eager to roam the city and see the tower closer up. We were still pretty far and the Palace looked huge!
"You can see that palace anywhere in Neptunia." Grandma said as we got closer.
Soon we were in Neptunia.

"Welcome to Neptunia! Are you newcomers?" some old merman asked.
"Yes we are!" Mateo yelled full of excitement.
"Well I hope you have a great visit!" said the merman as he swam away.
"Thank you!" We all yelled as we waved goodbye.
"Okay, so I know that this trip was to meet family, but you all will be here for 2 weeks so I think today you should all explore the city!" said Grandma.
"Cool!" said Mateo.
"Wait, you all? Where are you going?" asked my mom.
"I have to handle some business." she said winking at Justice and I. I think she was going to make more of the potion for Justice. "I'll be at my home. Come back tomorrow, Sunday night. Some family members should be there then."
"Okay Grandma!" Marissa said. We gave her a group hug.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" asked my mom.
"Please, I've lived here for years. I'll be fine. You guys, go out and explore. Be safe! And I'll catch up with you all later. I love you all." she said swimming away.
"Love you too!" We all yelled as she swam off. We swam a little further until we entered the city. I looked around and was completely amazed. It was literally like a city on land but under the sea, and it looked a trillion times better. I saw a small market place and a bunch of other small businesses. There was a Red Algae and Coral shop, a beauty parlor, a bookstore and so much more. The landscape and architecture was stunning.
"Look straight ahead!" Marissa cried pointing at the palace.
"It's the palace!" Mel yelled.
"Where King Neptune lives!" I yelled.
"I can't believe that's where King Neptune lives!" Justice exclaimed.
"I know!" I said.
"It's also where Prince Pluto lives!!" cried a group of teenage mermaids.
"Eek—hahaha—OMG I LOVE HIM—YES—Oh girl, yes!—I love him so much!" They all said.
"Who the hell is that?" Mel asked. "That's a planet right?"
"No, but it used to be, I'm pretty sure." said my mom.
"I don't know, all I know is that it's out of this world." I said.
The girls all gasped. "You don't know who Prince Pluto is?" cried one of the girls.
My mom, siblings, Justice and I all shook our heads "no".
"Prince Pluto isn't or wasn't a planet! He's King Neptune's son, the Prince of Neptunia and the hottest merman in the deep blue sea!" the girl said.
"OMG Yes—the hottest of the hot—oh girl, yes—true—so hot—I love him!" They cried again.
We all looked at each other.
"Those girls are crazy!" Mateo whispered.
My mom covered her moth as she let out a chuckle.
"Umm, Okay! Well, we gotta go! See ya!" I said as we swam away from the group of fan girls.
"Oh goodness, are girls like that at home?" My mom asked.
"Yes!" The twins, Justice and I said together.
"What can I say? I'm irresistible!" said Mateo combing his fingers through his light brown hair. We all laughed.
"Please, the only girl who's crazy over you is Sam Brown!" said Mel.
"Who's that?" asked my mom.
Mateo rolled his eyes, "some psycho chick that's desperately in love with me."
My mom laughed, "you kids are a mess! Let's go finish looking around."

There were several poles with conches that filled the streets with soft music. So many nice merpeople were out in the town. This mermaid let us meet her sea puppy and pet it. He was so adorable!
"I love being a mermaid!" Justice exclaimed admiring her tail through the glass of the beauty parlor window.
"I love Neptunia!" cried Marissa.
Just as we thought the day couldn't get any better, something extremely scary happened. We were all having a great time, minding our business when we heard a loud scream filled with panic.
"SWIM FOR YOUR LIFE!"
I looked around at my family and we all got scared. Hundreds of merpeople—maybe I'm exaggerating, but that's what it seemed like—swam in all different directions. I didn't realize it at first but I was split up from my group. I searched hopelessly for them but too many merpeople were yelling and pushing that I couldn't get anywhere. The area started to clear a little more and I saw them swimming into the beauty parlor.
"Hurry, Marina! Swim!" They yelled signaling me to get into the shop.
One of the fan girls we ran into earlier let out a loud and painful shriek.
"AaaAaaaAgh! OMG! LOOK!" she yelled pointing behind me.
I turned around and saw a giant tiger shark about 200 feet away swimming right towards us.
My heart sank and I felt sick to my stomach. "Oh my goodness," I said to myself. I swam right towards the beauty parlor as fast as I could for safety. Right when I reached the door, the fan girls pushed me and I fell hard on the ocean floor. "Ouch," I said as I rubbed my tail.
"Marina, get up!" Mateo cried.
"Marina!" my mom yelled banging on the window.
I looked up and the shark was like 100 feet away. It was blurry at first but then I snapped back into reality. I didn't want to die, not like this. I got up and swam back over to the door and tried to open it.
"What the? It's locked!" I yelled as I struggled to open the door. Three of the fan girls were holding the door shut.
"Don't let her in, the shark will get us—Aaah—go away—it's every fish for themselves—get off the door—swim away!" They yelled.
I turned around and the shark was getting closer, too close. I backed up to the wall and closed my eyes. There was nothing else I could do except hope the bite didn't hurt too much. I opened my one eye and saw the shark at my face.
"Please don't hurt me," I begged. I closed my eyes again and waited for it to be over with when suddenly...
"Ha! Get out of my town!"
I opened my eyes and saw a mysterious merman punching the shark. Out came 4 shark teeth. The shark fell to the floor as 3 guards captured it.
"Lock him up! And lock him up good!" the merman yelled.
As the tiger shark left the town with the guards, the merpeople began cheering and clapping as they came from their hiding places.
"Baby are you okay?!" My mom asked giving me a huge hug.
My family all gave me a big hug.
"I'm fine! That was just really scary!" I said.
I looked over to the beauty parlor and out came the fan girls, they were all shaking. Justice, Mel and I swam over to them.
"Why would you lock my sister out to die?" cried Mel.
"Because, every fish for themselves... am I right ladies?" said the fan girl who I was now thinking was the leader of the pack.
"Yea!" cried all of the girls.
"What you guys did was really messed up. You're gonna wish you treated her better one day!" said Justice.
"Please, that girl has nothing on us!" said the girl. She and the fan girls giggled and swam passed us towards the crowd.
I rolled my eyes, "Ugh, they're annoying. Thanks for having my back guys."
"No problem!" said Justice.
We turned back towards the commotion. Everyone was giving the merman who saved me handshakes, high fives and thanking him. Suddenly, this expensive looking shell carriage arrived to the scene. The door flew opened and out came a large merman. He had a huge crown on that looked hella expensive and although his long hair and beard was completely white, he was extremely muscular and didn't have a single wrinkle on his face.
"That's my boy!" cried the man. His voice was so loud and powerful.
"I think that's King Neptune!" Mateo yelled with a huge grin on his face.
"Shhh!" Mel exclaimed pushing Mateo.
The crowd went silent and everyone turned towards us. King Neptune glared at Mateo. He and 5 other guards swam towards us.
"Think? What do you mean, think?" He asked.
Mateo went mute. He couldn't say anything. King Neptune swam closer to us then took a deep whiff...