Barbie: The Pearl Princess

With the power vested in me by nobody in particular...

I hereby crown you Princess Kuda, ruler of the seven seas.

Oh, thank you. Thank you, my loyal subjects.

Ladies and jellyfish, let us celebrate my coronation...

with a royal ball.

Let joy be unconfined!

May I have this dance, milady?

Charmed, I'm sure.

Lumina? - Aah.

Uh-oh. - Aah!

Lumina?

Lumina.

What was that commotion?

Um...

Oh, we were just playing coronation, Aunt Scylla.

Were you using your pearl magic outside?

Um...

Well, maybe, just a little.

Lumina, I've told you and told you...

- keep your powers private. - Powers private.

I know, Aunt Scylla. I'm sorry, really.

You have a very special gift...

but if word got out...

Well, all kinds of bad people might come looking for you.

But I don't understand.

Who's gonna see me way out here?

You don't need to understand.

Please, just do as I say.

Hello, Kuda.

Hi, Aunt Scylla. Ha, ha.

Ah. Great.

Now your aunt's mad.

And I've got clam dents in my head.

Oh, you look fine.

Hmm. Except for your hair.

Uh-oh.

Hmm.

Uh-uh.

Hmm.

No. Still not right.

I think that's the one.

Let's see. You need something to wear.

There.

Now you look like a princess.

Hmm?

And now we both look like princesses.

I wonder what a real princess looks like.

Yeah.

And the royal castle.

And all the beautiful mermaids and their elegant clothes.

Can you imagine the dances they must have there?

Kuda, you think we'll ever really get to see the castle?

Maybe.

Someday.

I bet it's just the most wonderful place ever.

I bet everyone there is happy all the time.

Your Gracious Majesties.

All I ask is that you consent to appear in public just one night.

Your subjects need you.

Your kingdom needs you.

Dare I say it...

I need you.

Caligo, as I've told you many times, Queen Lorelei and I...

Of course, of course.

And like you...

I am inconsolable over the lost princess.

But we simply must face the fact...

that with you and the queen having no heir...

the kingdom will one day pass to your nephew, my son.

Hello, Neocrinus decorus.

And how are we today? Aah!

I'm afraid Caligo is right.

Perhaps it is time.

Excellent! And since he'll also need to choose a suitable wife...

we'll give a royal ball.

We'll invite only the most beautiful...

and eligible young mermaids of the kingdom...

for a chance to be my son's queen.

Huh?

Aah!

Aah, aah, aah...

Oh.

Perhaps we should invite all the maidens.

And throw in a door prize.

Whoa. Ugh.

Yoo-hoo!

Hmm.

Aah!

Oh, dear me.

Did I frighten you? Ha-ha-ha.

Who are you? What do you want?

I go by many names, but you may call me Murray.

I come bearing an eel-mail from an old friend of yours, Caligo.

Hey!

Out!

I admit tracking you down was a particular challenge.

But my Bottom Feeders Network came through.

All right, you've found me.

What is it you want?

Ah, that famous hag hospitality.

A simple request, really.

My employer is once again in need of your, um, professional services.

Services? What services?

Caligo convinced His Majesty to open up the castle for a royal ball...

at which time the king will confer the Pearl of the Sea medallion...

onto Caligo's son.

His Majesty will then toast the boy from a cup of merberry nectar.

- Which Caligo wants me to poison. - Exactly.

The king croaks, the son is crowned, everybody wins.

Well, maybe not the king.

Don't you love a happy ending?

Well, you can tell your employer that I'm no longer in the poisoning business.

So unless you're interested in buying...

some gill glistener or scale brightener, get out!

He said you'd say that.

I am, therefore, authorised to issue the following threat:

Do it or I'll tell everyone you killed the princess. Ha-ha-ha.

You wouldn't dare.

He said you'd say that too.

I am, therefore, authorised to respond:

Would so.

Fine.

If it's poison Caligo wants, it's poison he'll get.

A wise decision.

Here, you'll need this invitation to the ball.

We'll leave the sordid details in your expert hands.

After all, it's really all in the execution...

wouldn't you agree?

Now, don't be late, 8 p.m., Saturday, at the castle.

Castle? - Huh?

What about the castle?

Well, well. And who is this?

- Hmm. - Hi. I'm Lum...

- Late again for dinner. - Aah!

Our guest was just leaving.

But, Aunt Scylla...

Aunt Scylla?

I assumed you lived alone.

- Maybe I should... - You assumed wrong. Get out!

Aah!

Hmm.

Aunt Scylla.

Hey!

What was your friend talking about? Did he mean the royal castle?

Are you going there?

Can I go? Can I go? Can I go?

- Please? - Lumina.

I heard it has golden doors and pearl chandeliers...

and a beautiful throne, and it must be wonderful.

And I've always wanted to go there, and so does Kuda.

Absolutely not. I've told you how dangerous the journey is.

I do it to sell my potions, but it's far too risky for a young girl alone.

But I wouldn't be alone.

I'd have you. And Kuda.

And burning fire coral...

and vampire squid and poisonous stonefish.

Lumina, neither of you has ever been an inch outside this reef.

Believe me...

you wouldn't last two seconds, even with me to keep an eye on you.

- But... - It's out of the question.

Uh, I think that's a "no."

I kind of stopped listening after vampire squid.

Now, you be good.

I'll be back in a few days.

And please, both of you, stick close to home.

Mm-hm.

That's a good girl.

Bye!

Goodbye.

I guess we're never gonna get to see the castle, Kuda.

Hey, wanna play tail tag? Huh?

- You're it. - Heh.

Huh?

Hmm. What's this?

It's an invitation.

She's not just going to the castle.

She's invited to a royal ball.

And she can't get in without this.

Huh?

Aunt Scylla! You forgot your...!

Hmm.

Kuda, we really should bring this to her, don't you think?