She-Ra-tober Announcement Post
Fanfic #1: Rainbow
Fanfic #2: Tattoo
Fanfic #3: Evening
Fanfic #4: Purring
Fanfic #5: Leaf Pile
Fanfic #6: Sunset
Fanfic #7: Warm
Fanfic #8: Abandoned
Fanfic #9: Workout
Fanfic #10: Embarrassing
Fanfic #11: Drunk
Fanfic #12: Future
Fanfic #13: Canoe
Fanfic #14: Sleep
Fanfic #15: Rope
Fanfic #16: Kiss
Fanfic #17: Robots
Ready for my Day 18 fanfic? It's showtime!
Aquarium
"This place has . . . changed."
Scorpia gazed upward at the bright white columns and the crystal chandeliers that glittered above them.
A far cry from the dark, moody atmosphere of the old Enchanted Grotto.
Now fully refurbished and under new management, it was still an exclusive venue and a place where shady deals were bound to occur, but it now gave the illusion of legitimacy and respect.
But one thing hadn't changed.
"This is amazing!!!"
Perfuma and Scorpia looked over to see Frosta with her face glued to one of the huge oval windows, beyond which was a colorful land beneath the sea. Schools of strange multi-colored aquatic life drifted smoothly past, their fins, tentacles, frills and tails waving iridescently, like models showing off their struts on the runway.
Frosta turned back toward her friends, a huge grin on her face and, uncharacteristically, sporting an eye-patch and a beret!
"Thank you so much for getting me in," she said, with a confidential tone.
Perfuma grinned back. "I knew you would enjoy it!"
She glanced at Scorpia, then back to Frosta.
"We're gonna have a look around the ballroom. Have fun, . . . Mackenzie." and Perfuma gave her a knowing look.
Frosta smiled bigger and winked with her uncovered eye. "You too, Tara!"
Then Perfuma took Scorpia's arm and walked with her over the marble floor.
"I know it's not quite the same," Perfuma conceded, "but doesn't it bring back memories for you?"
Scorpia nodded, her eyes cast toward the floor. "Sure does! And . . . it is beautiful." She paused for thought. "Maybe a little bright, but . . . it's nice."
Perfuma held Scorpia's arm close to her and stopped in the middle of the floor. She looked up smiling to her friend. "It's where we had our first date. And right on this spot . . . this is where we danced."
Scorpia looked up around the room and toward the ceiling. She spoke with a sudden realization. "Gosh! You're right! We were standing right here!"
"I'll never forget it." Perfuma turned toward Scorpia and took her pincers in each hand, and they began swaying gently side-to-side.
As if on cue, the lights dimmed a little, and a bit of soft piano music began to play. Now, the reflections from the water surrounding the Grotto reflected ribbons of light over the floor.
"Wow!" exclaimed Scorpia. "How do you think that happened?"
Perfuma smiled coyly. "Well, I did put a little something in the piano player's tip jar."
For a while, they held each other close and danced a little.
Then Perfuma suggested, "Let's go a little closer to the stage."
They made their way across the floor to where the tables began between the dance floor and the stage. At this time of day, they were sparsely attended, with perhaps only a couple of dozen patrons seated there, but the atmosphere was relaxed.
Frosta followed them in a general way, moving with wonder from window to window.
As they came near the tables along the foot of the stage, Scorpia tapped Perfuma and pointed.
Someone in a shiny blue suit sat alone at a table, their head tilted forward and a large hat and dark glasses hiding their features.
"That guy's all alone, Perfuma. He doesn't look so happy." Scorpia frowned and then made a decision. "I think I'll go talk to him."
"Oh-- okay." Perfuma followed.
As they neared, the man looked up, startled by their approach.
Scorpia caught a view of light aqua hair and pale skin.
"Hey! It's . . . Double Trouble?"
The man sighed. "You're thinkin' of someone else, honey." His voice sounded a bit dismal as he continued with a bit of sarcasm, "And thanks for the reminder. That ship sailed long ago."
Perfuma squinted in the dim light. "Wait. You're the actual Prince Peekablue, aren't you?"
The Prince gestured urgently with his hand. "Ya wanna keep it down? I'm trying to do the hermit thing." Then he shrugged. "Guess I'm not doing it too well though so . . . you might as well sit down and join me."
And so they did. Scorpia offered her hand. "I'm Scor-, er, Lynda, um . . ."
Peekablue waved her confused introduction away. "Let me make it easier for you." He pointed. "You're Princess Scorpia. I'm Prince Peekablue." He hesitated as he turned to the other woman. "Aaaaand, I suppose you're Princess Perfuma, right?"
Perfuma nodded.
"So, what's your story?"
Frosta had quietly walked up to the table. She stood beside Perfuma, listening to the conversation.
Scorpia began, "Well, I'm a blacksmith. No, I mean, she is. And . . ."
Perfuma shook her head at Scorpia. "I don't think that's what he means." She turned back to the Prince. "We were here once before, on an undercover mission for the Princess Alliance. And, we decided to come back to see this place again. What about you?"
Peekablue gestured to the window, with the sea just outside. "I'm here for the atmosphere. Always liked the place." He shrugged. "It's not the same, but mainly, just like you -- just like everyone here -- I'm here for the reminiscing."
Scorpia brightened up. "Reminiscing. Hey! That reminds me of a song."
Peekablue smiled a little. "Really? I'd like to hear that."
"Scorpia, it's your moment! Again!" Perfuma put a hand on her shoulder. "The stage is yours. It was meant to be!"
Frosta joined in. "Yeah, Lynda! Let's hear what you got!"
Scorpia frowned. "You know what?" She lifted her head, smiling confidently, "I will."
Scorpia made her way up the steps to the stage. She grabbed the microphone and nodded to the piano player.
"Play it sweet, Swen!'
The piano player nodded and began playing a slow, loungey jazz tune. And Scorpia sang, while Peekablue and the others hung on her every note and word.
She swept her claws over the audience, gestured to the ocean outside, and strutted across the stage with heart and soul as she sang:
Everyone's heeeeeere
For the sweet memoriiiiiiies.
We're playin' our tuuuuuunes
Next to the fishes in the sea-ea-eas!
Whether it's saaaaaad,
Or happy as you plea-ea-eaase,
Won't yoooou rem-in-isc-sing it with me-e-eeeeee?
Whether it's looooove,
Or it's heartache, here's the dea-eaaaal:
Deep in the ocea-eaaaaan
It's even blue-er than you fee-ee-eeeeeeel.
So if you've been fish-iiiiiiiing
For just one song to make it rea-eaaaaal,
Won't yoooou rem-in-isc-sing it with me-e-eeeeee?
Rem-in-isc-sing it with me-e-eeeeee!
'Cause I'm rem-in-isc-singin' the bluuuuuues!
I'm rem-in-isc-singin' those under-the-deep-water,
Urchin-and-sea-otter,
Down-to-my-last-sand-dollaaaaaaaar . . .
. . . buhhhh-luuuuuuuuues!
The whole room had livened up, and on the last note, the patrons at the tables stood up and applauded!
Scorpia ended up lying on her side along the front of the stage, arms stretched out and eye to eye with Prince Peekablue.
He was smiling as he clapped, but he was blinking away some tears.
"Gee," he said. "You really know how to make a guy's mascara run, don't you sweetheart? Bless you."
Perfuma was whooping and cheering, and a cascade of flowers rained over Scorpia, to her huge delight.
"More! More!" yelled Frosta.
Scorpia sat up smiling and blushing a little. "Sure!" She looked toward Swen. "Let's have another one."
There was a lot more good music and singing that night, with happy memories being remembered and made.
In fact, it was such a scene that, for once, the fish were the ones staring curiously through the windows!
And before the evening was done, Swen's tip jar was full.
