Ursula

The Parade

Ursula:

I wasn't always like this. No, I am like this because of him. Triton. Triiiiiiton.

Chapter One:

35 years ago

"Marina!" Hurry up! We're going to miss the parade!" It was a holiday, and Ursula was cheerful. The water was clear, the village bright, with colorful jellyfish silk banners hanging around every corner. It was Belsius day, the anniversary of their settlement in Muriel*. It had been three years since Belsius, Ursula's father, had led them into the new expanse of sea floor after they had been exiled from King Poseidon's realm, just before he left to fight in the Giant War and his son took over the throne at the age of 22. The folk had been so grateful to Belsius to have found a new land after so many years of searching, that they dedicated a holiday to him. Since it was a holiday, Ursula was out with her younger sister, Marina, and was anxious to get to the various venders selling all kinds of sea delights.

"I'm coming! Wait up!" her sister's voice called from inside of the house. Marina burst out of the house, her purple shell top matching her long locks of hair. Marina was three years younger than Ursula, at the age of ten, but one could easily mistake them for twins, aside from Marina's gray tail. Marina shared her sister's long, pale lavender hair, and large green-gray eyes. Ursula's tail was a deep violet that took on a grayish sheen in the light. Marina swam straight into her sister with a loud smack.

"Marina! What took you so long?" Ursula brushed herself off and quickly straightened her fishscale bikini. "The parade is starting soon. We have to hurry!" She grabbed her sister's hand and swam swiftly to the main street. The parade had just started. A great float with Belsius, their father was in the lead. He was smiling and waving to the crowd. Several other floats with musicians and dancers followed. The crowd cheered and threw ropes of pearl and wreaths of sea flowers at the procession.

When all of the floats had passed, the merfolk slowly began to drift away, going to the different vendors and stalls. Marina tugged Ursula to the nearest food stall. The merman was selling boiled seahorse, pickled seaweed, and dried salmon, a rare thing during the time of year. Ursula took the few sand dollars her mother had given her that morning and handed them to the vender for two strips of dried salmon for Marina and her to munch on. They wandered around for a few more hours, trading sand dollars for colorful hair ribbons, salted jelly, and shiny fish scales. After a long time, the streets cleared up, and Marina and Ursula started home. Splashing and dancing around, the two sisters giggled together and marveled at the goods they had bought.

"Look at this ribbon," Marina said, holding up a light blue ribbon. "Doesn't it match my hair perfectly?"

"It's wonderful. You look like Amphitrite* herself," Ursula responded.

"Really? I bet it would look great on you too. Why don't you try it on?" Marina carefully tied the ribbon into Ursula's shiny hair.

"How do I look?" Ursula asked, turning to face her.

"Lovely. Here," Marina said, handing Ursula a shell mirror. "See for yourself." She picked up the mirror and admired her hair. The blue ribbon complimented her lavender waves wonderfully. It even matched her bikini and tail. She handed the ribbon and the mirror back to her sister.

"Thanks for letting me try it on. It looked nicer on you though."

Marina beamed. "Did you really think I looked like Amphitrite?"

"Of course. That is, if she was a small, annoying, and lazy little girl," Ursula said playfully.

"Be quiet. I shouldn't have asked anyways," Marina swatted her with her tail. The girls smiled at each other and swam on.

All of a sudden, a building on the left of them exploded. The sisters were knocked sideways from the force of the explosion. The water pushed them far back, in a flurry of splintered limestone and tattered pieces of the banners. Screaming, Ursula fought the dizzying feeling in her head. She tried to swim to Marina, but her sense of direction was useless. The force was dying down, and brought them to a stop against another limestone house.

"Marina! Marina! Where are you?" Ursula frantically whipped her head around.

"I'm over here!" Marina's voice called out from the sea floor. Ursula swam towards her quickly. "What was that?" Marina asked in a frightened voice.

"I'm not sure. We better get home quickly," Ursula said. She tried to mask her fear. She had to stay strong for her sister. Together, they began to swim back to the main road. They were almost there when there was another explosion behind them. This one was smaller, so it only pushed them forward a bit. Now they were both racing to get home. They no longer stopped to stare at the explosions which were now all around them. They raced on, tails beating wildly. Finally, they made it to their coral mansion, and burst through the door. Their mother and father were rushing around, gathering bottles and jars full of mysterious ingredients from the surface.

"Mother? Father? Whats going on?" Ursula asked.

"He has found us," her father replied. "We knew this would happen someday, but we hoped it wouldn't happen for a long time. Ursula noticed that her father was still dressed nicely from the parade.

"Who's found us?" Marina questioned.

Their mother turned around. "King Triton has found us. He is continuing his father's work. None of them are happy that we have created a realm for ourselves. He is attacking us now and hopes to claim Muriel for himself."

"What? No! What are you both doing then?" Ursula asked.

"We are going to help the other leaders of the village to fight back. You two must leave immediately," their mother said firmly. "Here, I packed your bags for you. Head North until you reach Ula*. Hopefully they will welcome you there. " Their mother grabbed a small manta ray leather pouch off the counter and grabbed a handful of its contents. She sprinkled the fine gold dust on Ursula, and Ursula wiped some from her arm onto Marina. "These are the ashes from a blow of Poseidon's trident. It will shield you. We will join you as soon as possible. If it comes to the worst, then you will have to live by yoursel-

"No!" Marina cried. "No! You're going to live! You will meet us there!"

"My dear," their father reached down and wiped her tears away. "Do not worry. Just swim as fast as you can to safety, and we will join you there. Go now." He handed them both their bags and pushed them forward. His eyes were red and full with invisible tears. "Your mother and I love you so much. No matter what. Go. We will find you." He pushed them out the back door, and they started swimming.

Ursula tugged Marina forward, and they both swam swiftly, their tears mixing with the salt water. All around them chunks of limestone flew, fish scattered, and mermaids wailed. They turned into the village square and swam towards the broken gates. They were almost out when a blinding white light flashed by. It seared the gates in front of them. Shrieking, they swam backwards. Again the white light flashed by. This time it struck the statue of Belsius on the left of them. Chunks of abalone flew around them. Marina shrieked as Ursula tugged her sharply away from a large chunk above her.