Two Worlds

~Chapter 2~

   "Come on Allura! We can't be late again!"

   Princess Allura and Prince Lance raced through the dark waters to the palace.

   "Father is going to kill us!" Allura exclaimed.

   "You're the older sister! You're supposed to supervise me and make sure I'm where I need to be when I need to be! Not thirty minutes late!" Lance yelled.

   "Well you're next in line for the throne! You need to learn to be punctual!" Allura retorted.

   "Did my coronation really have to be today?!" Lance yelled.

   The two royals burst through the palace doors. The prince went to his room to dress and the princess went to the king in the main room.

   "Allura, you both are thirty minutes late. Lance's coronation is now in twenty nine minutes!" King Alfor scolded.

"I know but he wouldn't come when I told him to!"

King Alfor sighed and checked in with the mermaids adding last minute decorations.

Upstairs, Lance's "servants" were helping him dress. He was royalty after all. Though he didn't like calling them that, he instead called them by name and they were each his closest friends. He trusted all of them with his life. They were all as highly respected throughout the kingdom as the royal family was. They brushed his milk chocolate hair, helped him with his bracelets and necklaces, earrings, and shined his tail.

   "You look wonderful, Prince Lance!" "Simply stunning!" They exclaimed, showering him with praise.

   Lance couldn't help but smile. "All you guys will be there, right?" Lance asked, patting the youngest one on the head, earning a smile from the fourteen year old male.

   "Well what kind of future wife would I be if I didn't come?" one of the girls asked jokingly.

   Lance chuckled. "Alana, you're fifteen and I'm twenty. But keep dreaming, sweetheart." He smiled.

   The mermaid sighed playfully. Lance gave her a little kiss on the forehead and chuckled sweetly.

   "Lance! Rehearsal!" King Alfor called.

   "I'm coming, Father! Sorry guys, gotta go!" Lance said, picking a flower from the wall and sticking it behind a boy's ear before dashing out of his room. When he arrived, he was amazed by the decorations. "Woah..." he whispered.

   "Lance, you need to take today seriously. Becoming King isn't some joke. Do you understand?" Alfor asked the young merman.

   "Why can't you take me seriously? I'm twenty, Father. Not some irresponsible kid anymore." Lance sighed, swimming away and up to the front of the room.

   Two hours later, Lance was officially king. He was finally allowed to go to the surface, something he'd never done. He left without saying any goodbyes. Allura and Alfor watched him leave. "Wait! Lance! There's something I forgot to tell you!" Alfor called. But Lance didn't care to hear what he had to say. He was tired of his father being di ridiculously overprotective of him. Allura sighed and swam back to her quarters.

   Lance broke through the surface of the calm ocean waters and looked around. The shore was full of beachgoers, but a few coast guard boats were floating aimlessly through the water. The shore's aquarium was bustling with people on the observation deck. Curious about the large building in front of him, the new king swam closer.

   "Mom! Look at that boy with funny ears!" A little girl giggled, pointing to Lance's blue tipped and pointed ears.

   That certainly drew attention to Lance. Not knowing these humans could be a threat to him, he swam closer and jumped up into the air for a graceful backflip. Everyone went silent for a second before breaking out into fearful chatter. The coast guard was alarmed by the commotion and steered their boats over to solve whatever the problem was. An aquarium employee rushed outside, took one look at Lance and he dashed back in.

   The merman was left confused, he didn't understand what was happening. Why were they so afraid? Had he done something wrong?

   A woman with her hair up in a tight bun came running onto the observation deck. "Coast Guard! Hurry, now! Catch the mermaid!" She shouted.

   Without warning, a large net came down around Lance, trapping him inside. He knew right then and there he wouldn't be going home for a very long time.