Morgana paced back and forth on the sand, neglecting the littered human garbage she was supposed to clean up.
What could she possibly have been up to? Was it the trip with our mother? Is that it? But she acted like a basket case even before we got the news.
Bah! Who cares, I get more attention, anyway.
She threw her hands up in exasperation, then sat down, sulking.
Morgana had thought that she would be happy at Ursula's leaving for 4 days with her mother, but as she watched her sister's figure grow smaller in the watery distance, she couldn't help but feel a little distraught. It was the first time in her short life that she and Ursula would be separated. One could even say Morgana was... what was the word? worried? For a normally self-invested cecaelia to even show the slightest bit of care for someone else, nonetheless her childhood rival, it was indeed something to be worried about.
What if the prat gets assaulted?
Nah, she can defend herself. Plus an added and probably unwanted bonus, mother will be there. No need to worry about nothing.
With that simple thought, Morgana un-scrunched her scrunched up eyebrows and began cleaning up.
*****
Minutes later, Morgana was just about finished when a group of little girls raced by, smacking the bag she was using for the trash.
"Sorry." The little cecaelia smiled sheepishly. "Would you like some help?"
Morgana plastered the kindest smile she could muster on her face and exclaimed,
"No no, I got it. Swim along."
Swim along right into Hades, brats.
As if on cue, another group of little girls raced by, completely dumping out all the trash. No apology or offer included.
"Oh, granny's really haunting me now!" Morgana fumed, bending over to scoop all the trash into the bag. Morgana felt a flurry of bubbles, and turned around and hurled the trash bag without thinking.
"There's your juice pouch kiddos, don't spill this time." she snapped, then cocked her head just in time to see the bag hit Eli's face.
Eli wiped the trash off his face, and Morgana muttered with slight disappointment,
"I thought you were a batch annoying hellions. Sorry."
"Ursula left?" Eli asked.
"Yup." Morgana nodded, "Never coming back. I'll be there for cake at your wedding, though."
"Alright. You'll pay for the cake." he grinned.
"She's coming back in 4 days. You have any idea where they're headed?"
"Land." he answered, then turned to leave.
"Why so quiet? She didn't kiss you goodbye?" Morgana teased, swimming next to him and picking up the trash bag.
"What will they do up there?" she asked.
"No one knows. Even Atlantia doesn't know. And Ursula didn't tell me she was leaving" Eli said, looking relaxed.
They continued swimming, then parted ways when Morgana came across the path that led to the trash depository.
*****
Triton watched the crab's sweating increase with amusement and growing curiosity. He had been interrogating the poor Sebastian ever since he heard him and Athena having a conversation.
"But I swear, sire! We were just discussing the upcoming concert I am planning for your birthday!" the crab squeaked, looking terrified.
"Are you sure, Sebastian? What exactly is the concert about? And why would she be discussing it with you when you do not plan concerts?" Triton asked him stubbornly.
"My uncle ships instruments here from the South-I-I mean North Pacific sea, Prince Triton! He composes music and I got the once-in a lifetime opportunity to direct a concert after he informed me the old Mr. Crobly retired." the crab stood up on his little legs, crossing his tiny claws and raising his rather pouty-looking mouth. "I am not about to spoil it just because you want to know, especially since it's for your birthday, and especially because I promised Athena I'd-" Sebastian's eyes widened larger than clams, and quickly crept inside his shell, nervously peeking out.
"What was that, Sebastian?" Triton wondered innocently, putting a hand to his ear.
"What did you promise her?"
As if saved by the goddess herself, Athena appeared in the hallway.
"Athena, sire! She is right behind you!" the crab nearly screamed, and then quickly scuttled away as soon as Triton turned around.
"Have you been interrogating Sebastian?" Athena asked teasingly.
Triton smiled guiltily.
"Where's the fun in a surprise if it's no longer a surprise?" she teased again, laughing.
Triton puffed his chest and raised his chin, saying in the most professional manner he could manage,
"I was asking Mr. Sebastian a series of consecutive questions regarding a certain beautiful mermaid."
Athena blushed, then took Triton's arm as he accompanied her to the servant quarters. The two went on to do chores, most of which consisted of Triton folding clothes inside out, but in the end proved to be a lost cause.
They then took a stroll among their busy kingdom, hand in hand and occasionally receiving a few disapproving looks from high-class merpeople.
"Triton..." Athena began.
"What's wrong?" Triton asked attentively.
"Does it bother you? That... that some high-class mer folk don't approve of us?" She asked quietly.
Triton stopped them and placed his hands on her cheeks.
"There is nothing wrong with us. Those mer folk don't approve because they believe a royal member cannot be with that of a lower-class mer. It will never bother me what they think of us. All that matters is that I love you and that nothing will ever come between us, neither class nor customs."
He pulled Athena into a loving hug which she found comforting, then leaned forward, their noses pressing closer together until Marina came and howled,
"ATHENA! There are more baskets of clothes to be folded! Where have you been all this time?! You have to promise to be on task or I will be forced to resign you to a later shift since clearly you aren't busy in the evenings."
She reluctantly pulled away, and Athena swam alongside Marina back to the servant quarters, shooting Triton a see-you-later look.