The Underworld

Tuesday, 27 April 2021

Looking at my surroundings felt like the weirdest dream. Hundreds of mermaids and mermen were before me, and the sea that I've always thought should be blue or green, was purple. There were lots of common sea creatures like whales, fish, octopus, turtles, and invertebrates like jellyfish, starfish, and sea slugs. And I've never imagined of such beautiful scenery under water because of the amazing sea plants like coral reefs, kelp, waterwheel, anemone, and sea grasses. It felt like a wonderful dream. But when I came to my senses and saw how frightening a beautiful angry mermaid's face can be, it felt like a nightmare.

The queen and the princess had been arguing non-stop for maybe 10 minutes, though it felt more like forever. I had time to observe everything, and couldn't help but be terrified every time the princess would glare at me. She looked and sounded too infuriated, though I couldn't quite understand what they had been discussing, because she and the queen were at the far left corner by the tall green grasses that hid them away from the hundreds of spectators, who were ordered by the queen to bow down until she gives them permission to rise.

I awkwardly stayed where I was. I thought I was standing on a huge and elevated rock, allowing me to get a view of what's around me, but when I looked at the ground, I was in awe of the red and turquoise pile of marbles, or rather, sea glass. Highly fascinated, I knelt to touch it and saw the gold bracelet on my right wrist. I had momentarily forgotten about it, but now, it looked so magical. I stood up and continued to admire the bracelet. It was very odd that it was stuck on my skin like a part of my body. I touched the intricate jewelry to feel the little diamonds around it. It still looked like a crown that shrunk and got stuck on my wrist, but somehow, it felt like it really belonged there though I couldn't quite understand why it felt that way.

"Must you treasure such possession? A valuable possession that you so easily embezzled from the preordained princess who is NONE OTHER THAN ME?"

Out of surprise, I stepped back and accidentally sat on a red marble chair, or rather, throne. HER THRONE. "I'm sorry. I was just…" I quickly stood up.

The queen swam her way in between me and the angry mermaid and happily announced to me, "Well, you are now the King of the Purple Sea."

"WHAT?!" The angry mermaid and I simultaneously responded, and I got flustered when she instantly glared at me.

When will she stop looking at me like she's going to kill me anytime? I waved my hand in a non-affirmative gesture to show that I wasn't amenable with that ridiculous decision as well.

"Whatever happened to the orchestrated plan we so agreed upon, during our discourse? I broached my grit in procuring my crown back!"

So, this underworld is called the Purple Sea. That explains the purple color. I wonder what kind of language or speech they're using? The princess talks like she entered a declamation contest in school and is up for the first place. She sounds so elegantly mad, but then I should've expected that from a princess whose crown got accidentally acquired by a mere human like me. Wait, why can I walk, or talk under the sea? I should sound garbled and funny underwater, and I shouldn't be able to move as if I were on land. This is so weird, but amazing! I couldn't help but let out a smile.

"You!"

Oh no. She saw me.

"How can an anomalous creature have the audacity to beam during such an inopportune time, you insolent mortal!""

"I didn't mean to. I'm sorry."

"You shan't exhibit any hint of pleasure at something that is not yours!"

Her orange red hair was a perfect expression of anger. The more she was angry, the more that it looked bright red orange like a blazing fire. She swam around me with so much hatred on her face, then held my wrist. "THIS CROWN IS MINE! I will move heaven and earth to retrieve it!"

I wanted so bad to be as polite as possible, but I couldn't avoid not looking at her breasts because the purple big shells could barely cover the entire pair of her wonderful God-given blessings. Her shiny tail is blue in the middle, orange on the sides, and her fluke (the two fins at the end of her tail) are green and glittery. I couldn't stop observing her, so I closed my eyes. "And I shall give you back the crown, my princess." Then, I curtsied. What on earth? Why did I do that? Only women curtsy! How embarrassing! When I opened my eyes and stood up from my ridiculous gesture, she looked me in the eye and I just kept blinking, afraid that she might poke my eyes or something. Fortunately, she let go of my arm and turned to the queen.

"Mother, he must not be declared as the King! We have deliberated on a possible plan to rectify this situation!"

"And I agreed, but I did not say I shall not make him King. He has been crowned. We shall proceed as planned, but until we resolve this predicament, he shall be King. Hence…"

"No, mother! No!"

"I shall declare him King."

"No!" She cried and knelt by the queen's tail.

I couldn't believe it. This highly intimidating princess whose furious eyes could burn every bit of my humanity with just one glare, was kneeling and crying. I never thought that even without legs, you could kneel down with a tail. She had every gesture that I thought only humans could do. Or actually, all of them beautiful sea creatures have the same gesture as humans do.

I don't know if the queen and the princess both realize this, but the hundreds of mermaids and mermen have been waiting too long, still bowed down, and not even moving a bit. I wonder if they also feel confused at what's happening. I'm so confused, I could hardly make sense of anything right now. I mean, the fact that I can walk, talk, sit, and breathe under water is so inconceivable to me. And the fact that mermaids and mermen don't only exist in books, but also in reality, is even more puzzling. Or maybe this is just a dream, and I haven't woken up. How do I wake up then?

"I very well know why you are not as agonized as I am of this unforeseen circumstance, mother. You must be laughing inside, completely delighted that the crown's fate is not in my hands anymore. You never trusted me, and will never ever have faith in me because…"

"Because you're reckless, careless, and selfish. You don't have a heart to offer to anyone. You are not going to be a good queen if you don't have a heart, my dear. It must've been fate that brought that young man to suspend your wicked leadership. I shall not put the Purple Sea in the hands of an undeserving spoiled little brat."

Now, she speaks my language!

"Mother, how could you say that to me in front of this abnormal creature?"

I can't believe how many times she's been calling me creature and worst, abnormal. She has referred to me as abnormal and anomalous which pretty much have the same meaning to me. She doesn't realize that I'm the normal one, and she's the creature. The nerve of this beautiful young mermaid.

"You're the abnormal creature, my dear child. Not him. You have such a belligerent mouth that could slice someone to pieces like a sword. You look down on everyone as if you have no flaw, when the truth is, you are the most flawed creature I have ever produced in my life. I hope that in finding a way to retrieve your crown, you also find your heart, so that you can learn to respect every being in this world. "

Yeah!!! The old queen rocks!

"You're the one who doesn't have a heart, mother, if my tears couldn't move you."

"Why would I be moved by a mere cry of despair for a crown that you don't deserve?"

"Mother, stop it."

"I will." The old queen walked away from the princess and walked to the center of the podium, or whatever it's supposed to be called. I just stayed at the corner as she spoke, "All rise." And the hundreds of mermaids and mermen all rose at once. "I shall announce the unimaginable, and withstand what's forthcoming. There shall be no interrogations, reservations, and any act of mystification. I shall expect your full trust in my judgement that this young man here will rule the underworld with both his heart and mind. He shall exhibit benevolence, valor, intellect, and good judgment not only with his mind, but also with his whole heart. In the face of this flabbergasting turn of events, I, your queen, am very pleased to announce that this young man is now King of the Purple Sea."

My jaw dropped as the queen smiled at me. It was the most genuine smile. When she beckoned for me to approach her, two mermen suddenly appeared from behind me and escorted me. Where'd they come from? I didn't even notice them until now.

When I reached the center of the marbled podium with her, she took my left hand and raised it, then everyone recited in unison, "All hail the king!" I was just frozen there until I looked to the left corner where the princess was in wide shock, then she suddenly fainted. I was afraid her head would bump into the rock beside her, so without delay, I swam as quick as a flash and caught her.

"Princess…" I uttered the minute I caught her in my arms.

She opened her eyes and looked at me with repulsion. "I swear to all the gods and goddesses of heaven, earth, and the underworld, I will kill you."

I've never been so scared in my life.