Field Trip

Amber knew she only had a few hours to give Nick a field trip to her favorite places in the city. She had left her cell phone number with the furniture store. They would call her when they were on the way.

She decided to go to the Aquarium first since it was quiet and Nick might feel more at home around animals than people and cars. She led Nick to the entry door and paid for two tickets.

Nick did not understand the concept of money or paying for things in this world. He just followed Amber wherever she wanted to go. He took in all of the sights and smells. It reminded him of the beach in the beast world, but it was different.

The glass bubbles here were straight and hard. He placed his hand against the glass wall that separated them from the water. Amber whispered, "Don't touch the glass. It is like the mermen's bubbles in the beast world, but it will crack if you apply pressure."

Nick retreated his hand and just observed the fish and other sea creatures. "Is this what it was like under the water?" He asked Amber about her trip under the sea.

"The fish here are a lot smaller. The ones there other than the mermen were more colorful. There is even coral that glows in the dark in the underwater cave."

Nick was relieved that Amber wasn't under the sea in the dark. He knew she did not have night vision as he did. Amber thought about Blue Tang and suddenly he appeared in front of her. He was in his two-legged form and didn't have any stripes anymore.

Other than his blue hair and blue-green eyes, he looked like a male model. He was startled at first. The last thing he remembered was searching for Amber for months. He had reached level five last month after sparring with the mermen.

After he reached level five, he left the next highest merman in charge and went on land to look for Amber. He had just finished fighting a behemoth and all of a sudden he felt Amber pulling him into this world. He was wearing a sea silk robe and had sea shells and pearls tied around the silk.

Luckily it was a slow day at the Aquarium and there were no other people in the room they were in currently. Amber gasped and Blue Tang turned towards her. He rushed towards her, picked her up, and hugged her. She was stunned.

Could she summon all of her mates just by thinking about them? She tried to think of the others, but nothing happened. She figured it had something to do with them reaching level five.

Amber asked, "What happened? How did you get here?" Blue Tang put her down and replied, "I'm not sure. I reached level five last month and my stripes disappeared. I went on land to search for you and then I felt you call to me."

"Where are we?" Blue Tang looked around and noticed Nick was staring at him with wariness in his eyes. He nodded at Nick and continued to observe the surrounding water and fish in the strange flat bubbles.

He placed his hand on the bubble just like Nick had earlier. Amber told him the same thing, "Don't touch the glass. It is like the mermen's bubbles in the beast world, but it will crack if you apply pressure."

Amber informed him, "This is my world. I am not from the beast world. I go there in my dreams but come back here during the day. What is a day for me is a year in the beast world."

Blue Tang remembered Nick explaining how Amber was not from the beast world and had disappeared for a whole year last time. He nodded his head and noticed they were dressed differently than he was.

Amber noticed it as well. At least Blue Tang was not wearing a loin cloth. They were at the aquarium, so they didn't have too many options, but Amber was able to buy an outfit for Blue Tang.

She told him, "Wait here. If anyone sees you, tell them you work for the Aquarium. They will think you are cosplaying as a merman." Blue Tang did not understand what she meant, but nodded his head and waited in the room surrounded by fish.

Nick went with Amber to the Aquarium gift shop. They looked at the clothing available. There were lots of T-shirts, but they all had different sea creatures on them.

Amber found a blue shirt that looked like it would fit Blue Tang. It had a green sea turtle on it. She bought some tan and blue swim shorts and some sandals. She was lucky they had clothes available.

Nick felt a little jealous that Amber was buying clothes for her other mate. He didn't see her pick out his clothes, so he didn't know where she got them from. He didn't say anything and just followed Amber.

The clothes were more expensive since they were at the gift shop, but Amber didn't have a choice. She hoped her sister wouldn't be too upset with all the purchases she made today.

They went back to the room they left Blue Tang in. He was talking to a staff member. Amber thought about how to get him away. She went up to the staff member, "Sir, there is a big mess in the next room."

The staff member wanted to stay and talk to this new cosplayer, but he had to leave to get someone to clean up the mess. He left reluctantly. When he left the room Amber whispered, "Good job, here take these into the bathroom and change into them."

She asked Nick, "Could you please help him?" Nick didn't want to, but he didn't want to cause problems for Amber. He hurried to the men's room with Blue Tang following him.

Amber followed them and waited outside of the bathroom. She noticed the staff member looking for her, so she went to buy some treats from the ice cream truck.

Amber sighed in relief when the staff member did not notice her. She bought three ice cream cones. She figured she would let them try some of each and see which one they liked. She got a strawberry ice cream for herself, a vanilla ice cream, and a rainbow sherbet.

The guys came up to Amber and they looked more normal other than their otherworldly good looks and Blue Tang's blue hair. She thought if anyone asks she could say they were international male models or in a band.

People would naturally assume that Blue Tang's hair was dyed and he was wearing contacts. Nick could also say he was wearing contacts with his bright amber-brown eyes. They were both too eye-catching.

Amber wondered what happened if the others came over. She would have to say they were in a band. They all had eccentric styles. It would be fine as long as her mother didn't find out. She did not know how to explain it to her.

She thought of Eli over in the beast world. She asked Blue Tang, "Did you see my baby?" She didn't say cub or baby monkey in case anyone overheard her. Blue Tang nodded as he at his rainbow sherbet cone.

"I saw Oliver and Barry with Eli last month. They were teaching him survival skills. He is learning quickly." Blue Tang finished his sherbet in a few bites. It was cold and sweet. He had never tasted anything like it, but he liked it.

Nick licked his ice cream cone and savored it. He had never tasted anything as delicious as this! Amber gave him a taste of her strawberry ice cream. Nick liked it as well. He liked both at the same time and discovered they tasted better together.

His cat eyes glowed in happiness. Amber smiled. She was happy to know her cub was learning and being taken care of. She hoped she would see him soon.

Amber took them to the Water Gardens near the Art Museum. It was a large circle with water fountains all around a grass circle. There was a small stream with pebbles leading to the Water Gardens.

This was her favorite place in the city because she could go to the grassy area in the middle and be as loud as she wanted and it would be drowned out by the surrounding water. She felt free there and would go vent her frustrations when she was upset with her father or people at school.

Amber ran around and started to yell just to release her frustrations and sadness. Nick joined her and roared. His roar was so loud it shook the ground. Amber had to cover her ears and she laughed. She placed her hand over his mouth.

There were a few people far away who heard, but they didn't know what to think. They just went on with their own business. Amber just laughed.