Fishpaste: Nicholas and Jennifer

Fish Threats

Mr. G.ts sleep was restless, thrashing in a pool of cold sweat, waking up in and out of dreams of flying fish sitting on thrones and violently grinding against him. He was sure he was going mad.

He went to the duck pond at first light, staring into its shimmering surface, trying to penetrate through it with his aging eyes in a vain attempt. When there was no movement other than the slight ripples caused by tranquil ducks, he got up and ventured into his field where his corn crops grew, and resolved to work twice as hard today in order to make up the time wasted in negotiating with tuna.

While he was throwing buckets of water over the crops, he noticed something glistening in the horizon, past the wonky fence that enclosed Mr. G.T's little farm. He squinted, but could still not make out exactly what it was. He took a tentative step forward, then another and then another, until he was past the fence that he seldom ever crossed. The glint was still there, something hanging off a low branch of a sycamore tree, the one from which he made his weapon. When Mr. G.t realized it was a red, plastic bracelet, he wondered why it seemed like it was glistening from afar.

Mr. G.t picked it up, for no justifiable reason other than mere curiosity, and tucked it in his palm, returning back into his farm. He placed it in his tool belt and was about to continue tending to his crops, when the sight in front of him made him stop in his tracks.

But only for a second. Because the next, he was bolting so fast towards Jennifer that he could hardly feel his face against the icy, opposing wind. He stopped in front of her, legs apart, knees slightly bent and arms outstretched, in an attempt to shield Jennifer from the oncoming Nicholas.

"I thought I told you to leave!" He shrieked in exhasperation.

Nicholas was taken aback Mr. G.T's unanticipated appearance but quickly regained himself; keeping his back straight and chin upright as he walked on his tail fin. He wasn't alone this time; this time, there were two ray fish behind him, hovering ever so slightly above the ground. Mr. G.t's pulse quickened.

"Listen sir," spoke Nicholas, in the air of authority that he always spoke with, "I am a man of peace and-"

"More like tuna of peace!" Spat Mr. G.t.

Nicholas's expression didn't change, "other than a few ducks, your pond remains unoccupied. As you know, I wish to peacefully conquer it through negotiations. I am a tuna of peace and I do not wish to start a war. These are my main guards, " he waved a fin at each ray, "Moral and Oral."

Mr. G.t hardly caught a word of what nicholas had said. When he spoke himself, his voice quivered, "I can easily throw you back into your pond."

Nicholas's eyebrow creased, but he looked relatively bored, "you do not want to know what my ray army are capabale of. Moral," he clicked a fin at one of the rays, after which Moral lit up into a blue ball of fire and electricity. Mr. G.t gasped and fell back helplessly against Jennifer. Nicholas clicked again and the ray stopped glowing.

"That was just a small demonstration. I have thousands of men. So I say, give me the pond, or I shall conquer something else you love. And if still you fail to oblige, then we shall wage war."

Conquer something else you love.

Mr. G.T's heart sank as it dawned on him. Fidgeting into his pocket he pulled out the red bracelet. Anger could be seen in every crease of his face, "you put this in the tree as a distraction so you could get to Jennifer. "

"Ah so that's her name, " said nicholas with a smirk, but it left as fast as it came and he turned back to his political face, "if you do not give me the pond I will have no choice but to take her. But, " he added when he saw Mr. G.t about to retort, "not without something in return. That is what the bracelet is for. It may not look like much, but put it on, and you'll be wondering how you ever lived without it. It is now yours, sir."

Mr. G.t made a disgusted face at the plastic snap-on bracelet and threw it on his wrist in frustrated curiosity. And he regretted it straight away. It was metal. Metal. And no matter how hard he attempted to remove it, it would not budge.

"I am giving you one more chance," began nicholas, in a sly, triumphant but authorative voice, "you are unaware of what I can make that bracelet do. I'll be back in three days. Make up your mind. This is your last chance." And with that, Nicholas and his rays went back into the pond, which somehow was a link to the Coral Lands or whatever they were called.

Mr. G.t stared back in horror. He doubted Nicholas's true motives of conquering Jennifer; he knew it was simply more than just 'peaceful revenge' for not giving him the pond. As Mr. G.t stared, blank, at Jennifer's beautiful red skin and then at his own red bracelet, he had one thing in mind:

He would not go down without a fight.