20 Part 20

The day of the ball has come and half the island enter the castle in their best attire. Conch, Coral, and Megan enter the castle in awe. The boys have never seen a castle from the inside, let alone lived so close to one. They slip through the main entrance, wonder past a stairwell, and find the ballroom filled from wall to wall with people. Conch felt very out of place from simply being stared at by more of the party.

Coral-

Well isn't this grand? I've never seen so many people in one spot before.

Megan-

Really?! You seem so sociable.

Conch-

Just because he likes to talk doesn't mean he's spoken to many people. We lived a pretty isolated life before this, after all.

Coral-

Any who, lets end the pity party and get to having some fun. Shall we my lady?

Megan-

Oh! Yes of course.

Coral-

I'm sure the princess is looking forward to seeing you, brother. Eh? Aye?

Conch-

Yeah, no. Sorry. I'm just gonna watch from over there. You have fun.

Coral-

Um. Hello! You got the personal invite. Be polite at least.

Conch-

...Right.

Coral and Megan disappear in the bustling crowd as Conch wonders the wall looking in to see if he can find the princess. He really didn't want to. He sees her standing by the throne with the king looking around the room with a sharp gaze, then sees a familiar figure dash past his gaze with a large man beside her. He couldn't make out the small frame out of the crowd.

The princess seemed to be looking for him. She spots him at the corner of her eye and smiles as she heads to him. She noticed his attention focused elsewhere.

Aurora-

There you are. I was worried you might not make it.

Conch-

That would be quite rude. Wouldn't it?

Aurora-

It seems someone else has caught your attention. Someone you might know?

Conch-

Not that I am aware of yet. I'd be surprised I if I did know them, though.

Aurora-

And why is that?

Conch-

Well, being as I used to be at sea most of my life, you'd think most of my views would be a bird or merfolk if anything at all. So of course I'd be surprised, m'lady.

Aurora-

I see. so you were a sailor?

Conch-

Hunting Divers, actually. Until we got swept by the sea.

Aurora-

Hunting divers?

Conch-

Like fishers only we can withstand the pressures of the deep.

Aurora-

Oh my. That sounds very interesting actually.

Conch-

Really? My brother didn't find any entertainment in it at all, while I just thought of it as a way to pass time really.

Aurora-

So you swim for amusement? I, myself, like to swim.

Conch-

Eh heh... Is that so?

Aurora-

Perhaps you would be interested in joining me for an early morning dip at the eastern coastal reef some time later? It would be quite a sight to see for you, I'm sure.

Conch-

That it would.

Aurora-

Will you not ask me to dance?

Conch-

Guh!? I'm sorry, m'lady. I'm not really one to dance. I prefer to watch.

Aurora-

That doesn't mean you don't know how, does it? Come. Dance with me. I insist.

Conch-

*oh boy.*

The princess drags Conch through the crowd to the center of the room ready to move on her own.

Conch-

I really don't think this is a good idea, princess.

Aurora-

Don't worry. Just follow my lead and you'll be fine.

She begins with a tapping her foot and the room grows silent. A steady ambient rhythm echoes throughout the room from the band. Her steps carrying her around in circles as the crowd makes way for her to move. She takes Conch by the collar and guilds him to the beat. He quickly adjusts to the rhythm and begins to follow her steps. They are soon completely in-sync. The quick steady beat of the room filling the people with the rhythm as they all step and clap to the beat for the two to continue. Soon others join the dancing.

The princess and Conch are stuck in the center of it all. When he finally started enjoying himself, he bumps into the tall figure he saw earlier. They look to each other and make full eye contact. Conch somehow felt uneasy again.

Aurora-

Why, king Titan! What an amazing surprise.

Titan-

Ah! Hello there, princess Aurora. Happy birthday, my dear friend.

Aurora-

Why, thank you! Who is you date?

A small girl with long black hair pears from behind Titan. Conch recognized her from the boat before he left the sea. Her shell around her neck was glowing as she stared at him with wide eyes of curiosity.

Titan-

I was about to ask you the same. This is Zui Taizao. From the China golf.

Aurora-

She looks distracted.

Titan-

Hm? Ah. She's never been to the surface before. This is all new to her, you see.

Aurora-

Really now?

Titan-

Well,do I get to know your new friend? I don't believe I've seen him here before.

Aurora-

He and his brother are a new residence here.

Conch-

Uh... Marine. Conch Marine, at your service, your majesty.

Conch bows to him unsure of what he was doing.

Titan-

You know who I am?

Conch-

Who doesn't? I mean... I used to live on a small island that would tell tales and stories from visitors of the sea.

Titan-

I see. So I take it you were the ones that broke through the barrier gates before?

Conch-

*uh oh.*

Titan-

Hah hah. Either you're gifted or lucky. But these things do happen occasionally.

Conch-

Really? My... Brother always said I seemed to be blessed by the ocean waters. I guess he was right.

Titan-

You must be tribal then. They do seem to have this way with the ocean more than even I can comprehend.

Conch slowly relaxed more as they all talked. It was as if they knew each other for years, he and Titan.

Aurora-

Well. I think we ladies should leave you two to your chatter.

Titan-

We do seem to get along well. It's like I've known you my whole life, Mr. Marine.

Conch-

That it does.

Aurora-

Bye bye, you two.

Aurora takes Zui away. Leaving the men to their conversations. Zui's eyes were still intensely fixed on Conch. Aurora snap at her and brings her back to reality.

Aurora-

There you are. So, what's you deal? You've been staring at my date the entirety of the conversation. Did you get hit by his looks? Because I got him first. So wait your turn.

Zui-

Actually, I saw him first. We met at sea already.

Aurora-

Wha...!? Well, aren't you the cheeky one. Don't you have the king of the western sea already?

Zui-

This was his idea. He knows full well I don't want him at all.

Aurora-

So are saying you want to compete with royalty, little mermaid?

Zui-

I am one also. So there isn't much to compete against.

Aurora-

Well if you're already with a king, aren't you getting married to him? What's the point in going after someone else?

Zui-

I will be eighteen soon. I am the coming queen of the China golf. I don't have to marry anyone. He simply wishes to join the seas into one kingdom as a whole. His customs, not ours.

Conch and the king were still talking like old pals until Coral steps in with Megan.

Coral-

There he is! Conch, we've been looking for you. Did you find the princess?

Conch-

Yes. We talked and danced, then she left with his date.

Titan-

How do you do? You must be Coral. The little brother?

Coral-

Who said I was the little brother? I'm older than this clam shell by two years.

Conch-

No one said anything about our age.

Titan-

So your the little brother?

Conch-

Never judge a book by its cover, your majesty.

Titan-

Bwahaha!! You have a point!

Coral-

Your majesty?

Conch-

This is King Titan. The ruler of the west waters.

Coral-

*gasp* I-I am so sorry! Please forgive my rudeness!

Titan-

A little jumpy isn't he?

Conch-

He had a bad experience with merfolk long ago.

Titan-

Ah. Please, then, don't mind me at all. May I ask who your lovely lady is?

Coral-

Yes. Yes. This is Megan. Uh... Conch I almost forgot I need to talk to you later.

Conch-

Sure.

Conch felt a bad vibe in the air and looks to find the princesses glaring at each other. He knew that wasn't going to end well for anyone.

Conch-

We better go get our dates before things get out of hand over there.

Titan-

Hm? Oh! Oh dear. That doesn't look good.

They hurry to the girls as the sparks start flying.

Titan-

What in the world is going on over here!?

Aurora-

Oh hello, King Titan. I think you'd be happy to know that your date has been ogling mine since you two got here.

Zui-

Oh, while you were simply using him to get the attention of another person in the room?

Aurora-

Like you have any reason to be nosing about in my business.

Zui-

I don't need to be nosy with how you've been talking about him the whole conversation.

Conch-

Enough!

The room stops with an awkward hush and the girls look to him in surprise. Titan simply watched quietly to see what happens next.

Conch-

I think you two need to go, your majesty. Princess Aurora. I will be heading home early since this is obviously my fault. So with all due respects.

The girls gasp nervously. They know he was upset. Titan saw Zui's reaction and noticed that Aurora was right about one thing. She has been watching Conch for a while. He started to wonder why.

Titan-

Mr. Marine, just a minute.

Conch-

Hm?

Titan-

Why don't we switch dates for a while. See how that goes?

Conch-

What!? I wouldn't think that's something you would really agree with. Are you sure?

Titan-

Well. It does seem that way, but I initially brought her here to show her around. Know this side of the ocean. I would consider it in her best interest to do so a little more freely. Don't you agree, princess Zui?

Zui's face lit up like a nightlight. She was very easy to read. And not in a good way. Conch looks to Titan who seemed to be having second thoughts, but he wasn't about to change his mind. Let alone take no for an answer.

Conch-

I suppose I don't really have a lot of options here. M'lady?

He holds out his hand to Zui. She trots over to take it and happily bows to him. Conch sees Titan watching them as they walk off into the crowd.

Aurora-

Your simply letting them go? She obviously likes him more.

Titan-

Obviously. And you are trying to get to whom exactly?

Aurora goes quiet.

Titan-

I suggest you go back to your father for now. Mr. Coral Marine!

Coral-

What!? What happened?

Titan-

Care to join me for a walk with your lady?

Coral-

Uh...

They follow Titan around the ballroom.

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