PARENTHOOD
Chapter Two Hundred and Fifteen (In the Doctor's distant future) Doctor Merman led the way as they made their way down the trail when they came to the mountain and looked up at the clouds that surrounded the top of the mountain in a thick mist. "Let me guess. The Temple of the Golden Heart is behind those clouds," Alan of Seaweed said and Hamfish nodded his head. Sighing, Alan of Seaweed slid his hands in his pockets as they headed up the trail and a low rumbling sound echoed around them. "Was the rumbling from a monster, Papaw?" Clara asked. "No, it was just thunder," Adam said. After resting for the night when they reached the halfway point, Hamfish stopped as the clouds swirled before them and Rose Coral held tightly onto Alan of Seaweed's arm. "We must be very careful. The clouds are very thick and it is easy to lose your footing," Hamfish said as they nodded their heads and entered the clouds. The cold air covered them as a soft tinkling sound filled their ears and the mist spread over their faces and bodies. Carefully helping each other over the gaps in the trail, they finally came out of the clouds when they stopped and looked at the temple. "Neptune's Eyes," Doctor Merman whispered as they walked closer and the golden domes shimmered in the sunlight. The rest of the temple was made of white marble with gold trim and a large fountain was in front of the temple. Statues of a woman holding an orb in her hands stood between the columns that surrounded the porch leading to the doors of the temple and the neatly trimmed bushes were on either side of the stairs. "This way," Hamfish said as he slowly walked toward the stairs and the cane softly clicked on the stone path. They followed him when the water in the fountain started bubbling and they gasped as Duerana rose out of the water. "Not again," Captain Jack sighed as Adamana walked closer and looked up at his brother. "Brother, please allow us to enter," he said as Duerana looked down at him and lowered his hand, picking him off the ground. Adamana looked at his brother as Duerana blinked his eyes a few times then moved a finger toward him, knocking the fedora off his head. "Hey, that was rude!" "You look better without it," Duerana said with a grin and Adamana sighed, rolling his eyes. "He's right. You do look better without that stinky, old hat," Rain said as Adam's eyes went wide and she stuck her tongue out. "I will have you ken that my wife thinks I look dead sexy when I wear my hat," he said with a smug look on his face then smiled and rolled his eyes. Duernana lowered Adamana to the ground when Rose Coral ran to Adamana and placed the fedora on his head. They watched as Duerana slid back into the water when they walked to the stairs and went up the stairs to the large, iron doors. "Allow me!" Frazerwick said as he stood in front of the doors and raised his arm while holding onto the staff. With a small smile, he knocked four times on the door when the door slowly opened and he motioned with his hands for them to go inside. "I could have done that!" Alan of Seaweed said as he lifted his chin and walked by him. They walked across the highly polished floor as the columns surrounded them and the torches flickered while sitting in iron holders. Their footsteps echoed around them when they came to the large, iron doors when Frazerwick walked closer and raised his arms. He mumbled something when the large, iron doors opened and they walked by the doors, going in the room. The darkness surrounded them as they looked at the white light which came from the ceiling when Hamish stopped near the marble platform and he raised his face toward the white light. "She comes," he barely whispered when something appeared in the light and slowly floated to the floor. Her dark hair floated in an invisible wind as the golden gown she wore fluttered around her slim form and her eyes shimmered in a white light. She was flawlessly beautiful and Rose Coral, Angelfish and Princess Rain Shower noticed the men fixing their gaze on her. "Who is that?" Princess Rain Shower whispered. "I am Mi-mi, the Keeper of the Golden Heart," the soft voice said as they looked at her and Mi-mi hovered inches above the marble platform. "Is that supposed to be me?" Namid asked and Adam softly smiled at her. "I think you look amazing," Hamish said as he kissed her cheek and Namid blushed while the children made kissing noises until the Doctor softly coughed and they pouted. "Greeting, Holy One, I am Doctor Merman," Doctor Merman said while walking closer and bent down on one knee, lowering his head. "There is no need for that," she said as he stood up and she softly smiled at him. Nodding, he stood up as she motioned for the others to come closer and Doctor Merman introduced them to her. "Why are you here, Doctor?" "We are looking for Neptune's Seahorse," Princess Rain Shower said and Mi-mi looked at her with a confused look on her face. "Why do you seek it?" "Because we wish to return it to Atlantis," Alan of Seaweed said. "King Neptune gave the seahorse to me for safe keeping." "Yes, but he is gone now. As queen of Atlantis, I wish for all the kingdom's treasures to be brought back so everyone can enjoy them," Princess Rain Shower said. "Come and stand with me in the light. It will show me if you speak the truth," she said as Doctor Merman nodded his head and Princess Rain Shower slowly walked to the platform, went up the step and stood next to Mi-mi. The light grew brighter as they held hands and Mi-mi's eyes shimmered in a golden light. The light faded as they looked at Princess Rain Shower and Mi-mi and Mi-mi softly smiled at her. With a wave of her hand, a white light appeared in the left corner as Doctor Merman walked toward the light and saw the seahorse sitting on a pedestal. Carefully picking the seahorse off the pedestal, he walked back to the others and they gathered around him to look at the seahorse. "Whoa, that sure is sparkly!" Alan of Seaweed said with wide eyes and Adamana gently poked him in the ribs. "Thank you," Princess Rain Shower said as Mi-mi nodded her head and Princess Rain Shower walked down the step and went to join the others. They headed for the door as Adamana looked at Mi-mi and she tilted her head to one side. "Is there something you wish to say to me?" she asked softly while watching the others walking out of the room and he walked to the platform, looking at her. "If it pleases you, I wish my brother returned to me," he said as he removed the fedora and she floated off the platform then stood in front of him. Seeing the sadness in his eyes, she stroked his cheek as she blinked her eyes a few times and he sighed, lowering his eyes. "If it was in my power, I would do as you ask, but I cannot." "But I miss him so much!" he said as the tears rolled down his cheeks and she wrapped her arms around him. "So do I," she whispered as he felt the golden light surrounding him and she stroked his hair. "I will keep him safe and you can see him whenever you wish." "But how can I do that? I live under the sea," he said when she placed her fingers on either side of his head and he closed his eyes. The golden light entered his mind as he gasped then she moved her fingers away and he blinked his eyes a few times. "What did you do?" "I showed you the path to the fountain outside. Follow that and you will be here in seconds," she said as he nodded his head then hugged her and went to catch up with the others. The whole kingdom came to see Neptune's Seahorse as Adamana floated above the rock and arched the fedora forward. Princess Rain Shower had asked him to join in the celebration, but he felt the ocean calling to him and knew it was time to leave. "Hey!" he shouted when Alan of Seaweed whacked the fedora off his head and swam after it, placing the fedora on his head. "Give that back!" "If you want it then come get it!" Alan of Seaweed shouted and Adamana growled, balling his hands into fists. "Give….it….back!" he growled when Alan of Seaweed swam to him and floated in front of him. "No!" he said as he elongated the "o" and folded his arms over his chest. "But it's my hat!" Adamana whimpered and Alan of Seaweed arched the fedora forward. "I'll give it back if you promise not to go anywhere. I mean all you do is run off after the fun is over. Why do you keep doing that? Don't you get it, Old Salty Fins, this is your home!" "No one wants me around," Adamana sighed and Alan of Seaweed's eyes went wide. "What a load of guppy poop! YOU are the Royal Treasure Hunter! You're also…." Alan of Seaweed said then trailed off and Adamana gave him a puzzled look. "I'm what?" he said as he gently nudged him in the ribs. "You're my best friend, ok?" he said and Adamana smiled, nodding his head. "So, Best Friend, shall we go annoy Princess Rainy Painy?" "Lead the way!" Adamana said as they swam off and Alan of Seaweed placed the fedora on Adamana's head. "The end!" Adam said as the children clapped and Rain sighed, rolling her eyes. "Why am I not surprised they would go off and bug Princess Rain Shower?" she asked when Adam and Alan stood up, walked to her and did sloppy kisses on her cheeks. "You ken that we love you," Adam said. "Yeah, you only bug those you love," Alan said and Rain giggled, swatting their hands away when they went to tickle her. After Adam placed his grandchildren to bed, he walked down the stairs when he saw the Doctor, Namid and Hamish still sitting on the couch and Adam walked to the other couch then leaned over the top of the couch. "What's going on?" he asked as the Doctor carefully got up and limped to him. "This is an intervention of sorts. Namid and Hamish are going to watch the kids and YOU are coming with me!" he said as Adam's eyes widened and the Doctor softly smiled. "But…." "No, it's time that you were pampered. Let's go," the Doctor said as he slid his arm around Adam's arm and they headed toward the garage door. Thinking back to the story, Adam knew he'd miss Duer, but his other older brother was still here, for how long, he didn't know, and he still wanted him around. That was something Adam had been worried about since Duer died and the Doctor turned, placed his hands on Adam's shoulders and locked eyes with him. "Of course I still want you around. Someone has to keep Alan in line," he said as Adam smiled while they walked inside the TARDIS and the doors slowly closed behind them.
Back Home Doctor Who Main Page Next