Chloe, Ramone, Abacab, Monica, Vinnie and King Phil Le all pushed through the wall of the tent and emerged into the. three ring circus. They were greeted with an arena full of delegates from the four ocean kingdoms. Chloe recognized several familiar faces including Big Daddy Sanders, the oil tycoon from the Southern Sea, and Countess Eveline Taon, the female leader of the Eastern ocean. Sanders wore a white suit and a ten gallon sea cowboy hat and Eveline wore dark robes that matched her jet black hair and makeup. Both of them were shrewd leaders in the oceanic woeld and Chloe hoped that they would see through the minister's power hungry plot.

As they climbed the wooden steps to the canopy, Chloe's eyes widened in surprise to see both Sanders and Taon shaking hands with the snake oil salesman, Dingsworth himself. The skinny, silver mustached man lifted his monocle to see both of them. Chloe gritted her teeth. "What do they see in him?"

"Perhaps an oppurtunity at more power?" King Phil Le artfully suggested. "No one truly rules the ocean. Not one man, woman or fishysauz, but this might be the closest chance they have at doing so."

Chloe sat down between Monica and Ramone. "I've never wanted power," she muttered. "Even when I'm queen of the pirates, my only decree will be freedom to enjoy your life in any way you want it."

"That's mighty noble of you, chica," Monica nodded. "But not everyone sees the world that way."

As Chloe looked into the crowd, with each section dividing a different section of the sea. She knew her dream wasn't easily accomplished, but she refused to believe that.

James Clown wandered to the center of the ring. "Gentlemen, Gentleladies and Gentle fish! Presenting the main event!"

At the center of the three rings, acrobats deftly tumbled through hoops-first standard, than burning. The clowns juggled everything from bowling pins to throwing knives and John Lion bellowed what the ringmistress referred to as "Bonafide Opera and I ain't Lion!"

All the while, the people in the stands passed out fluffy pieces of bread and water to enjoy during the show. It was very entertaining, Chloe had to admit but she also didn't see why things didn't commence immediately.

At last, the circus ended and the spotlight focused on Minister Dingsworth. "I hope you enjoyed our little bread and circuses!" he sneered. "I truly harvested the best of both for this monumental moment!"

Chloe gagged over his overly smarmy demeanor. But she squeaked in terror when the minister thrust his hand directly at her. The spotlight all zeroed in on her and nearly blinded her. "I'm happy that the former monarch of the Mainland is here tonight!" he announced, "because...she is the very reason I have come to seek out unification!"

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The crowd all gasped at Dingsworth's shocking revelation. "You see, fair Queen Annabell Chime had one of her eyes replaced with that of a Demollusk! You may ask yourself, what is a Demollusk?! Well, they are a blighted plague that threatens to infect this whole ocean including your friends and family!"

The circus organ grinder down below played a dramatic motif that sounded like 'dun dun duuuuuun!'

There were screams of panic. It seemed to the young queen that many of these leaders had not seen the Demollusks in their corners of the world. Rosemary was suprisingly quiet like a serpent hiding in a wall of rocks.

"Not only have these creatures tragically infected the queen, making her incapable of ruling, but, they exist for a much more devious plot. They exist to infect every race on the planet!"

The widespread panic could not be contained from the lesser politicians, but Taon and Sanders remained composed. Taon pulled out a red fan and Sanders merely adjusted his hat. Even Chloe was surprised, but they merely had no reaction.

Dingsworth raised his hand in the air. "We cannot fight this threat alone," he said to the others. "Our kingdoms will be easily squashed as these dreadful parasites continue to infect more and more of our kind. Even the young queen is beyond redemption and she destroyed our hospital when we tried to save her."

Chloe grinned innocently as the spotlights focused on her. "Uh no comment?" she giggled.

"Behold the face of evil!" Dingsworth exclaimed. "Expect your own body parts to be extracted and you will become like her."

"Ew..." Chloe muttered. "You're making it sound even worse than it was."

Some of the politicians fainted, others merely turned away. The mass hysteria was growing even with Chloe's attempts to deflate it.

"I propose," the minister shouted. "That after we deliberate, we form our Oceanempire and combat this demollusk menace head on. Only then will your people's truly be safe.".

Sanders, Taon and even King Phil Le nodded. "Very well," the fish king announced. "We will do that."

"Good..." the minister said, gritting his teeth and rubbing the palms of his hands together. "We shall retire to our respective tents and hash this out."

"Excuse me?" one of Eveline's lackeys asked. "What about the demon queen? Surely we can't allow her back here. She'll massacre us all and replace our noses with demon noses!"

"Ah yes," Dingsworth said. "Our guards will make sure she remains here."

Valcom walked up to Chloe's crew. You're not going anywhere" she stated. "Justice is blind, but in this case, she's got her 20/20 peepers peeled all over ya!"

"That's very poetic and kinda gross, my good lady," Ramone answered.

"Thanks," Valcom smirked. "I may look thick and bulky but I'm an existentialist poet in my spare time."

"I hate poetry," Chloe muttered. "So spare me."

"Those who hate poetry," Valcom stated smugly. "Often can't express themselves properly. But in layman's terms, you lot aren't going anywhere."

Chloe looked at her friends feeling somewhat helpless, when suddenly, Monica winked at her. "Um, senora anchor arms?" she asked.

"Yes?" Valcom answered.

"Puerdo ir al bano por favor?"

"Huh?" Valcom said raising her eyebrows.

"May I go to the bathroom?"

Valcom looked nervously around. "Do you really have to go?"

"Si," Monica nodded. "All those carbs were heavy on my stomach."

"Alright," Valcom said, "Follow me. But if you try any funny business, I'll mess that pretty face right up."

"Of course," Monica giggled and stood up. "Gracias!"

As she got up to leave, Monica placed a hand on Chloe's shoulder. "Don't worry, chica. I got you!"