Preparing for the opening ceremony for the International Animalia Convention wasn't something that could be done the night before. A lot of practice went into making sure everything would turn out right. The interpretive dancing took a lot of practice. Fortunately, the March of the Kingdoms part was fairly straight-forward. The flying required from Goldie and the torchbearer hawk was easy enough to do, though the hawk had to practice with an ordinary torch to make sure she didn't accidentally let the flame blow out for the ceremony.
The singers involved were certainly not showing any less effort on their part. Sera had just finished another practice singing and was a little worn. Singing took a lot more energy than most people would think. She headed offstage, looking for the cooler. "Your singing is lovely," said a deep voice. Sera looked up to see her fellow singer, Chilly. His song came before hers but it was amazing how melodious his deep voice was.
"You're not bad either," said Sera before clearing her voice, "But singing is thirsty work." She opened the cooler and gave a sigh of annoyance. The cooler was empty of everything but ice.
"The performers mobbed through here earlier," said Chilly, "But they've sent for another pack of water bottles."
"And here it comes," said a new voice. Sera and Chilly turned to see a fish woman wearing a wetsuit walk through the door carrying a cooler. She paused a bit when she saw Chilly. Her reason was understandable. Not only was Chilly rather large, but as a polar bear, he tended to excite a little bit of fear in prey species. Especially species that bears ate.
"Don't worry, he's a really gentle thing," said Sera.
"Marcy can attest to that," said Chilly, speaking fondly about his mate.
"Right, sorry. Old instincts," said the fish woman, "I'm Ariel."
"That sounds familiar..." said Sera thoughtfully.
"Because of The Little Mermaid?" asked Chilly.
"Not just that. I think it's a little more specific..." said Sera ponderously. After thinking it over, she snapped her fingers and said, "Right, now I know. You're the first fish they uplifted."
"Me and Ran," said Ariel.
"I don't think I've met him. Do you know how he's doing?" asked Chilly.
"Oh, he's doing very well," said Ariel, "He's moved out to Mieni Atoll, got himself a job, a mate, and some offspring on the way."
"Why didn't you go?" asked Sera.
"I'm still a trout," said Ariel, "Freshwater fish don't do well in the sea and there aren't any lakes big enough at that archipelago for me."
"So what have you been doing with yourself since growing legs?" asked Sera.
"Trying to help out the freshwater division of Animalia Aquatica," said Ariel, "But it's not very exciting. In fact, I've been the only freshwater fish for a long time. Thank God those Amazonian fish are coming up here."
"I think you can do more with yourself than that," said Sera. Unlike Judy, the rabbit who working at Horizon Labs, Ariel didn't seem that interested in pursuing science for its own sake.
"I have been thinking on that a while and your performance on Earth Day gave me the push I needed," said Ariel.
"Did it?" asked Sera.
"Well, I know I'm named after a mermaid with a lovely singing voice and my own voice doesn't sound too bad to my ears," said Ariel.
"Really? Let's hear it," said Chilly.
Ariel cleared her throat before singing softly:
"What would I give to live where you are"
"What would I pay to stay here beside you"
"What would I do to see you smiling at me"
"Where would we walk, where would we run"
"If we could stay all day in the sun"
"Just you and me and I could be"
"Part of your world"
Sera and Chilly exchanged glances and Chilly said, "I definitely think she has potential."
"Yes, I think so too," said Sera before turning to Ariel, "Have you thought of a stage name?"
"I was thinking Aqua Marina, or is that too on the nose?" asked Ariel.
"If no one else has that name, I think you'll be fine," said Sera, "But you might need an extra gimmick. Mine is that I can fly and sing. With you, I'd say..."
"Clam shell bikini top," said Chilly promptly. The two girls stared at him. "And, that's what everyone will be expecting anyways. I'm just saying it now."
"There's more to a singer than what she wears," said Sera pointedly.
"I know, but that is what they'll be wanting her to wear," said Chilly.
"We can do more than just that," said Sera, thinking it over. After a bit, she asked Ariel, "You can talk clearly underwater, right?"
"Easily enough. I do still have gills," said Ariel, "Sound carries better underwater anyways."
"And there's plenty of stereo equipment that could pick it up," said Sera, "Underwater singing could be your thing. And I know enough people now that I could get you started easily."
"Really? You think I could?" asked Ariel excitedly.
"You've got the talent and the dream," said Sera, "How could I turn you away from that?"
"Eh, I'm just doing this one song," said Chilly, "If you want to be a full-time singer, go for it."
"How could I ever thank you?" asked Ariel.
"You can start by giving me a water bottle," said Sera.
"Oh, right," said Ariel before opening the cooler she brought and handing Sera a bottle.