From a human's eye, fish are cannibals, they eat each other, and occasionally their own young.  However, that was before Joe the mindless pilotfish and his dimwitted shark companion discovers a special potion, inside a leaky bottle deep beneath their ocean sanctuary.

The potion gives them the power of speech and brain development. Joe first discovered the effects on his brain with increased intelligence. With his dimwitted shark by his side, he plans to create a new ocean world where he becomes the dominant one, the ruler and all-around o-fish-inado.

Everything goes swimmingly until one day Joe realized that the potion was getting low and will not be enough to make all the ocean creatures intelligent.

One day during a general meeting, Joe met a young fish that tried to drink his potion, but thanks to his jellyfish friend, Chuck, he was stopped; “We’re at the bottom of the sea, you’ll drown!” exclaimed the jellyfish. That got Joe suspicious; maybe the young fishes know something about this potion and ordered his shark friend to arrest them. 

Joe is a patient fish when it comes to fidgety creatures, but this one that tried to drink the potion claimed it was his. He admitted to Joe that he and his family are not really fish. Joe smiled at the fish and clung to him while telling the kid about his idea to have him help create a civilized society, but first, they needed more of the magical brew. The kid does not know the ingredients and begs Joe to hand over the potion. Joe loses his patience and locks him and the two others in a cage, threatening them, that if they do not tell him the recipe by tomorrow morning, they will be Shark bait. 

The next morning Joe discovered that his prisoners have somehow escaped and he now has no choice but to call in his army and begin searching for these infuriating fishes. Far out of the ocean near the surface, Joe saw an octopus that was grasping the fishes as they were trying to get the ink. Shark scared off the octopus and the kids were saved and got the ink for their own potion. Joe surrounded the kids with his army of swordfishes and crabs. Joe drank the rest of his potion to gain more intelligence to frighten the children. He wanted the kids to make more of the potion or else he will have them killed. 

Shark cut in on the subject and exclaimed that they do not need more potion since they are already smart enough. 

Joe did not like the shark’s thoughts since he only said that because he wanted to eat them. Therefore, Joe firmly and harshly fired him. Joe tried to make an offer for Fly, by making him commander of his fish minions, only if he gives him the potion that Fly just made. Not only Fly refused, he got grabbed by Shark full of rage. 

Even though the kids are swimming away, Shark is not letting him go. While Shark goes on and on about how bad Joe treated him as his associate. There was an underwater twister; it was sucking up everything in its path, including Joe's army of crabs. Both Joe and Shark have been sucked into the unnatural underwater twister. Shark takes no emotion since he is still yelling at Joe for all the promises he breaks. “You may be the one with the brains, but I’m the one with the muscles!” Shark exclaimed. After that last comment, he got his head stuck in a tube and releases Joe from his grasp. 

Joe may be free, but he still wanted to get at the children. Then he noticed Chuck with his intelligent skills of knowledge and physics. So Joe thought of watching before following them. 

The kids are being sucked into the drainpipe, where it leads them to a laboratory. Of course, the kids will be okay; thanks to Chuck and his smarts. 

However, Joe was not prepared for what was coming to him; first, he got spun into the fast-spinning propeller, and then he got whammed against the twisted corridor. Until finally Joe came out with a blast.

Joe then saw the kids swimming towards the jug. As Chuck swam towards the big jug filled with a large amount of potion,

Joe sneakily tied a knot on the sock that Fly and his starfish sister Stella were in. 

And then he grabbed hold of Chuck. “I believe, this dance is mine!” Joe said breathlessly, as he spun the jellyfish away. 

As Joe escapes through the escape pipe, an injured Californian Flyfish was following him. Joe threatens him by saying: “I’m sufficiently intelligent to kill you if you don’t stop bothering me!” 

However, Fly was not taking his threat into any notice, as he was planning to give Joe some hard questions: 

“Can you tell me what the Square Root of 6561 is?

Joe wanted to prove that he can solve that math problem to Fly's question, but he could not figure it out, so he decided to drink a bit of the potion to answer his first question without hesitation: 

"81!" Joe answered. He may get the answer correctly, but the potion that he just took made him mutate.

Fly asked Joe another hard question: "Do you know what happens if an object travels at the speed of light?" Fly asked. Joe was not intelligent enough to answer that question, so he thought of drinking some more of the potion.

"It turns into pure energy!" Joe answered correctly, again. Joe's mutation has been getting worse; he was too distracted by the potion addiction to even notice his transformation. Fly then asked another question that doesn't have an answer. "What came first, the chicken or the egg?" Fly asked. With that question being asked, Joe drank a big gulp of the potion; which made him even more human-like.

"It... depends on the relatives of a bunch of molecules, and the UNIVERSE," Joe answered, almost breathlessly. 

"What happens to a fish if it drinks too much antidote!?" Fly asked in a higher tone. Then Joe finally noticed his mutation.

"It... Becomes... HUMAN..." Joe answered with pride and satisfaction, while not realizing that his gills are fading. Then Fly asked the final last question: “Can a human breathe underwater?”

Joe finds that question the most absurd.

"OF COURSE NOT..."

After his last answer, he felt his gills fading away and gained the human lungs, so he ends up drowning. 

This was the last of Joe the Pilotfish… that is… that's what Fly and the kids thought. 

(Alternate beginning)

Joe came out of the drainpipe and into the ocean, as he was floating limply. A mysterious ocean creature approaches Joe with the red potion that he had discovered a long time ago; it's the kind of potion that turns humans into fish. He gave the human Joe the antidote and turned him back into an intelligent fish. Joe woke up and threw up a lot of saltwater in his body since water is supposed to come out from the gills. Joe was confused, as he was looking around. He noticed a dark shadow fading away. The mysterious creature was long gone by then, so Joe decided to live on his ways back to his Empire. However, He had to put in a good friendly word with his shark friend. 

He took the boat and the tube apart to make Shark’s escape easier. Poor Shark was purple on the face from the pressure of the tube. Shark noticed that Joe has changed back into his intelligent self; without the hairy eyebrows or fingers. Shark was about to speak with confusion until Joe cut him off. “Before you say anything, I just wanted to say 'I’m sorry' and let bygones be bygones,” Joe confessed. Shark nodded, only he did not understand what Joe was saying. “Shark, from now on, I’m giving you more respect as my associate.” Joe added. Shark smiled big. “Does this mean you will clean my teeth?” Shark asked hopefully. Joe made a disgusted look but smiled calmly. “I’ll hire someone to clean your teeth since I still have the Empire to run.” Joe explained. Shark nodded and decided to accept Joe’s decision. As Joe rides on top of Shark, he asked his boss a question. “What about the potion, do you have the recipe?” Shark asked. “The potion is long gone, my fleshiness friend. I’ll have to think of another way to create a civilized society of exceptionally intelligent fishes.” Joe answered. 

Even from Joe’s death experience and then revive as a fish, he did not reform, nor did he give his servants any respect; he still has a primeval mind when calling in for executions and not give the fishes any holidays or sick days. He even abuses the seahorses by having one of his crabs whipping the seahorses to keep them in line. As the years rolled by, Joe keeps having this feeling that he is missing something and not just the ingredients for the potion, but something far more obnoxious. 

Joe was impressed by the statue of himself; so big, so powerful. Then he looked at the piece of the monument, the potion that he was holding that created a civilized society. Joe did not see the point of having his statue holding the bottle if he does not know the ingredients or where to find more. The potion was only the lease of his problem, his servants have nothing else to do; they all thought that once the statue is built, they can live on with their lives. However, there is another problem; the statue was not properly structured, Joe can tell right away that his monument is chipping and falling apart. That made Joe concerned and decided to prepare a meeting at the cargo area for all his servants. “As I have noticed, you’ve all been lazy, and all you do is moping about,” Joe announced. Most of the fishes nodded and admitted that he was right, but some prefer to mope since they like to have some peace and socialize with other creatures. “Which is why, I want you all to mend up the monument; make it stronger and look like new, and I won’t take no for an answer”. Then one of the fishes spoke. “I hate to intrude, but we don’t need to break our backs to fix something that isn’t broken!” The fish explained. Joe stared at the fish; who so happens to be Aaron, he knew that fish very well, since he is the only one that can express his thoughts to him. Normally, Joe is capable of keeping his cool, but it's been three years and Joe thought: ‘this has to stop’. “May I see you in my office in private?” Joe called out. The fishes' sorrow for Aaron, as they knew something bad is about to happen.

At the office, Joe was sitting at his over-sized desk with Aaron the Anthia fish sitting in his over-sized chair. “Aaron, you’re a fine worker as my slave, and you’re not even afraid to speak out, even during important matters,” Joe smiled. Aaron nodded. “Thank you, sir, it’s all in my--” Then Joe snapped “This has to stop!” Joe snapped. Joe's change of tone made Aaron flinch until he noticed Joe’s waiters. “Want some candy? It’ll give you satisfaction.” Joe asked in a calm tone, as one of the waiters lift a piece of a coral wafer. “No I’m good, thanks. I just want to get this discussion over with so I can be home with my wife and daughter.” Aaron explained. “Say no more, say no more; I know where this is going. Let’s just get back to the subject, shall we?” Joe said rudely. “Now, about your intrusion at my meeting; it's been three years since you've been speaking out your mind to me, so I’m extending your time period,” Joe decreed. Aaron was shocked. “But sir!” Aaron gasped. Joe stared at Aaron with a loss of patients. “You’ll be working till late at night, and I will be expecting you at my Empire by sunrise. No breaks!” Joe declaimed. Aaron spoke out again, but with anger. “You’ve gone WAY too far; you don’t treat your workers fairly or pay a fair amount of salary to us over-worked fishes. I have no choice but to quit!” Aaron scolds. The attitude that Aaron gave to his boss made him very cross; he snapped his fin and have his shark arrest him for scolding. After Shark threw Aaron in a cage, Joe swam to Aaron to talk some senses to him before lowering him down to a dark cargo room. “That will teach you not to snap back at me when I’m giving you advice,” Joe said. Aaron made a mad glare; When Aaron opened his mouth to speak, Joe stopped him; “DON’T even think of talking back at me! You’re lucky that I didn’t execute you; because putting you in a cage is only a warning if you ever obstructed me again,” Joe informed as he opened the cargo door. “If you want to remain alive and be with your family, you have to remain working for me as my servant and not bother me with your useless thoughts,” Then Joe snapped again as the cage is lowering. “I will see you in the morning,” Joe said, as he watches Aaron going down to a dark room. “What about my family? I need to be with my FAMILY.” Those were Aaron’s last words before the cargo door shuts.

Meanwhile, just outside the Empire, there was a small, sunken houseboat; there lived two Anthias, one is Aaron’s wife Lizzie, and his beautiful daughter Martha who would always get dinner prepared for Aaron's arrival from his tough labor at work. However, they were not aware that Aaron was under arrest. “Mom, when will daddy be home?” Martha asked while making her fine vegetarian sushi rolls. Her mother did not answer; she just swam towards the sea-beaded door to look out from a distance. Lizzie is usually aware of her husband’s delays, due to all the complaints that he always goes on about. Martha on the other fin worries about her dad; he has been sick lately from over-working and does not take breaks or vacation days, she sometimes wishes she could just have her dad retire or just simply quit; ‘how hard can it be?’ Martha thought to herself. Her mother swam back to have dinner with her daughter. “We can just eat, sweetie; I think your dad is working overtime for his boss.” her mother said, as she was eating her sushi roll. Martha did not want to eat, not without her dad being home. However, her stomach had different plans so she decided to take her mother’s advice.

Back at the Empire, Joe was making a public appearance while riding on top of his shark. What Joe does not know is that the fishes applauded only to keep themselves from becoming shark food; they would rather boo at Joe for the way he treats everyone and the seahorses at the Work Camp, but they would not risk their lives. Joe then heard a revolting noise; one of the fishes is throwing up off the edge of the deck from working too hard on an empty stomach. Shark approached the sick bass. “Bow to your master!” Shark exclaimed. The sick bass did as much as he could to keep everything in, but that only made the bass even sicker and dizzier; he just couldn’t hold it in any longer, he threw up again, and this time all over the shark and his boss. Everyone gasped at the upcoming punishment that the bass is going to get. Joe snapped his fin and had his shark devour the bass. However, the sick bass’s friend jumped in; “please master! It’s not his fault; he’s over-worked and got sick, please reconsider!” one of his friends begged. Joe chuckled with a grin; “Very well then, I’ll reconsider,” Joe said, but really, he was only being sarcastic; so he said to his Shark without them hearing, “eat him too.” Joe whispered. Shark smiled big and did as he was told. So he ate not only the sick bass but his friend as well.

After the public appearance, Joe decided to turn himself in for the night. He felt a lump on his human-sized pillow that he had not slept on for a while, so he looked to see what the lump was. Joe was shocked, he found his tiny sample of the potion in a specimen cup; from all the fish-hunts and his temporary death, he forgot that he saved his little bits of potion for emergencies. “Shark, look what I just found!” Joe called out. Shark then swam to his master, “oh… I get it… it’s… urine!” Shark exclaimed excitedly. Joe head-pounded with grief. “No, you idiot! It’s the sample of the potion that I have lost, do you know what this means?” Joe rhetorically asked. Shark thought about it, he thought hard, but nothing came out. “It means, my hope for creating a society of exceptionally intelligent fish is not yet hopeless. Tomorrow, I will send someone to find an intelligent fish to observe the potion and find out the ingredients.” Joe explained. Even though he knew that it would take time, he is in no rush; his Empire is running swimmingly as it should.

Late that evening, Martha tiredly waits for her dad to return home safely, but he never did; she is starting to worry even more. “Oh daddy, what’s taking you so long?” Martha asked out, even though she meant to say it to herself.

Then she felt a fin on her shoulder; Martha turned and saw that it was her mom. “Come on, sweetie. It’s time for bed,” Her mother said. Martha refused to go to her room; she promised herself that she would wait for her dad to come home safely. “I know you’re worried about your dad, sweetheart. But you know that sometimes he has to stay at work to impress his boss.” Her mother added as she was escorting her to bed. “But I sensed that something is wrong, my heart tells me…” “Your heart is telling you that it’s time to go to sleep.” Her mother cut off. Martha decided to not argue anymore since she is too kindhearted to fight back. Instead, when her mom is sleeping, Martha sneaks out of her room and grabbed a couple of sushi rolls and out the door without her mom knowing; Martha was wearing a dark hooded cape to hide her neon from predators. 

As she got to the Empire, she saw the late-night workers busting their backs. However, the statue distracted Martha from observing the working grounds; it is so massive, it made her fins quiver thinking how mad looking the statue is, she hoped that she does not have to meet the real thing face to face. Then she felt a tug from her bag. The one tugging her bag was a runt seahorse; he is very small and makes a cute squeaking noise. Martha smiled at the seahorse; she kneeled to have a good look at him. “Hello there, my name is Martha,” Martha introduced herself. The seahorse backed away scared, as he has been abused by some creatures. Martha knew that the seahorse was hungry, so she took out a sushi roll and breaks the piece off. “Are you hungry? Come on, it’s okay…” Martha said gently; the seahorse swam forward slowly while still feeling shy. “That’s it, come on; it’s okay…” At that moment, the seahorse ate the piece of her sushi roll. “You see, I’m your friend,” Martha said, as she was about to pet the seahorse, then she noticed the scars and a torn fin on his left side. “Aw, who did this to you?” Martha asked. Then she heard a whipping noise. “Hey! Get away from that seahorse!” It was the rock crab holding a whip. 

Martha can sense that the crab gave the runt whipping scars by the way the seahorse quivers by his presence. “Are you responsible for giving that seahorse scars?” Martha asked. The crab stared crossly at the Anthia fish. “Why does it concern you?” The crab asked. Martha stared crossly at the crab. “Well for one, this little guy hasn’t eaten enough, that’s why he’s so small, and another thing; you’re doing sea animal cruelty to this innocent creature and the rest of those seahorses!” Martha exclaimed. The crab did not like the way the Anthia fish complains about how he trains his seahorses. “I’m afraid you have to come with me to see the big boss; he will want to discuss with you.” The crab said after he grabbed her by the fin. Martha looked back at the statue and started to freak out. “I DON’T WANT TO MEET THE BOSS.” Martha screamed, as she tried to escape the crab’s grip. However, the crab is too strong, and his claw is hurting her fin. Fortunately, the seahorse wanted to save her, since she was so kind and gentle to him. He charged at the crab and grabbed his whip; it distracted the crab long enough for Martha to struggle out free without the crab’s tight grip. “Hey! Where are you going? Get back here!” The crab yelled out.

As Martha tries to swim for her life, she noticed the swordfishes, and they were charging after her; Martha tried to out-swim them, but another group of swordfishes was swimming towards her and have her surrounded. Martha frantically looked around, until she saw a hole that leads to the cargo hold. The swordfishes were too big to fit, so they decided to have the crabs search for the intruder inside, only because the inside of the ship is off-limits for the swordfishes.

After Martha takes some time to regain her oxygen, she looked around to find another way out. Then she saw a birdcage with someone in it. Martha swam towards it to see who or what it was; she saw that it was her father. 

“Daddy?” Martha said while feeling choked up. “Martha... Is that you?” Aaron got up stiffly and swam towards his daughter for a hug. “What the halibut are you doing here? It’s dangerous to wander inside the Empire!” Aaron exclaimed. 

Martha did not let her dad’s worries bother her since she wanted to give her dad dinner. “I’ve come to bring you some leftover dinner daddy. I made you your favorite…” Martha offered. Aaron grabbed the sushi rolls and gobbled it up as if he has not eaten in forever. 

Martha felt her dad’s fin; they were cold and her dad is losing his color. “Dad, you are getting sicker, you have to get out of here,” Martha said with concern. “I can’t; if I leave or try to escape, Joe will execute me,” Aaron explained. Martha was shocked to hear her dad’s event. Martha was going to say something; however, her dad spoke first. “I was lucky that this was only a warning, or else I could have been devoured. Martha, you have to leave this place before the authorities catch you. I will be home tomorrow night.” Aaron added. 

Before Martha can tell her dad that she loved him, the crab woke up from his nap and noticed Martha. “INTRUDER” The crab yelled; He got up and ran towards her. “Love you, daddy!” Martha called out to her dad, as she was swimming up, trying to get away from the crab. Martha got out and thought she was safe until she saw that the crab was climbing the chain that was hooked onto the birdcage. Martha was freaking out, but she knew that she had to remain calm. She saw an open window and thought that she can escape out. Unfortunately, though, a bunch of chains was blocking the exit; she tried to spread them apart, but they were too heavy. The crab saw her and decided to jump at her; he grabbed her by the neck and fin. “AH HAH, I got you!” The crab exclaimed. Martha was screaming in fright and did not know what to do. However, there is still hope for Martha since somehow the crab’s claw slipped off her neck, so she can slip away; she cannot get out from the window in time so she quickly decided to go through the air vent. The crab saw her escaping through the vent, so he charged after her. The ventilator is so strong that it forced her to come out of the other end of the ventilator. 

When she finally got out, she landed on the top of a canopy bed. 

Martha then heard someone snoring; she peeked through the rip of the top of the canopy and noticed a pilotfish sleeping soundly. Then she noticed the shark on the end of the bed; Martha made a peep as she was about to scream, but she did not want to wake either of them up. Therefore, she quietly tries to find the way out, until she heard something coming down from the air vent. The crab burst out and grabbed Martha by the cape. The crab’s weight tore the roof on the canopy and startled the sleeping pilot. Joe noticed the crab before he noticed the fish that he was attacking. “What are you doing you idiot?” Joe yelled. Joe’s rage woke up the shark; Martha knew that she had to get away fast, she saw sunlight shining through the crack, she knew that it leads outside. Therefore, she tugged on her hooded cape and barged right through the door. “Shark, go after that fiend!” Joe ordered. As Shark tries to swim after Martha, Joe stared at the crab. “What’s the big idea, waking me up from a nice dream?” Joe asked while not being amused by his disruptions. Then he noticed something shiny in the crab’s claw. “What’s that you got?” Joe took the shiny object that was stuck on the crab’s claw. It was a beautiful necklace with blue sapphire; also known as a human being's bracelet, it can fit a fish around the neck like a necklace. “The intruder was wearing it sir. It broke off as I was grabbing her by the neck,” The crab explained in a loud military voice. “She was feeding the prisoner.” The Crab added. Joe looked at the necklace while thinking about Aaron. “I think we need to make a little visit with our victim.” Joe said, as he was admiring the sapphire.

On that early day, Joe went to the cargo hold to rise the cage that Aaron was in. After the cage is up and the storage door is shut, Aaron weakly looked up at Joe. “Did you have a nice night my friend?” Joe asked rhetorically while dangling the necklace. Aaron noticed it right away. “Where did you get that?” Aaron asked nervously. “Oh, this?” Joe asked as he knew that Aaron was talking about the necklace. “Well, let’s just say that some infiltrator has sneaked into my room and disturbed my dream.” Joe grinned evilly. Aaron did not want his boss to know that the necklace was his daughter’s, so he decided to convince Joe to hand it over. “Uh… I do believe I know a fish that was looking for that necklace, so I can just get that off your fins so I can return it to her.” Aaron offered. Joe chuckled, as he knew that Aaron knew that infiltrator. “No reason to do that for me Aaron; I have sent my shark to go after her, he probably has her eaten by now.” Joe explained. Aaron’s heart stopped. “You Bass-in-Custard, how could you do that to MY little larva?” Aaron quarreled. Before Joe replied, Shark entered the scene. “She’s long gone, boss…” Shark exclaimed. “There, you see what happens when you get punished? You just lost your precious daughter because of your interference.” Joe clarified. Aaron collapsed to the floor and silently cried for the first time. “What have I done?” Aaron asked himself. Then Joe patted his back without grief. “Yes… It’s been hard to lose someone that you loved, but I have to feed my shark somehow,” Joe explained. Shark raised an eyebrow; however, he did not want to say anything. “I tried to be reasonable with you Aaron, but you forced me to take extreme measures, now get your tail fin on your work deck, now!” Joe ordered. Aaron left to head to his workstation while thinking about his revenge on his boss.           

after Aaron left, Joe pats Shark's nose with gratitude. “Well done, Shark. That got Aaron to stay in focus on his work, instead of focusing on the way I work.” Joe smiled, until his smile faded, noticing that Shark’s teeth are still clean. “Shark… either you have learned how to use dental floss, or that you have never eaten that infiltrator that got away.” Shark gulped, as he knew that he is going to get it. Only, Joe did not yell at Shark for once; instead, he patted him. “Never mind, I've never asked you to eat her anyway,” Joe said calmly to Shark. “Aaron however, still thinks that his daughter was eaten; so it will slow him down, and then I’ll execute him with rights,” Joe added while admiring the necklace that he was still holding. 

What Shark said about Martha being long gone is true, but she wasn't eaten; she is safe from harm and can swim back home safely. Martha removed her torn black hooded cape and swam right to bed with a plop. 

Just then, her mother came in. “Martha, time to get up sleepyhead.” Her mother said while rubbing her daughter's back. Martha woke up still exhausted from her dangerous voyage. However, she did not want her mom to notice, since it might bring up the subject.

Over at the Empire, Aaron furiously drags and pulls before he can think of a plot for his revenge. His friends were concerned. “Hey man, you have never been this hard at work since Labor Day, what is going on?” his sardine friend asked. Aaron stared angrily at his friend with his bloodshot eyes. “Do you have any idea what I have been through last night with that ignorant that you so call Pilot?” Aaron asked a rhetorical question. “He gave me extra hours, he locked me in a cage, my family doesn’t know what has happened to me, and he sends his dimwitted shark to go after my daughter; HE KILLED MY DAUGHTER.” Aaron exclaimed. Aaron then came up with a plan. “I’m going to set things right; surely I may die, but it’s the honor I must take as an act of vengeance for my daughter. Now, who's with me?” Aaron asked with pride. No one volunteered since none of them want to get in trouble or lose their jobs. Aaron cannot stand the traumatizing servants. “Fine, I’ll do it myself; I’ll start with that statue!” Aaron said as he left his work placement to take down the statue. “Poor guy, he is going to get owned by his boss in a split.” One of the sardines thought aloud.

Meanwhile, Martha exhaustively prepared breakfast for her mom and herself with breakfast barnacle chips. Her mom noticed how tired her daughter is, so she decided to talk to her. “Sweetie, you looked so tired, what's wrong?” Her mother asked. Martha looked up from the table. “Oh, nothing important; I’ll be alright, want some sea-salt?” Martha asked while trying to change the subject. Her mother then noticed something; her daughter was not wearing her necklace. “I think I know the reason why you’re so tired,” Martha stared at her mother nervously while listening. “You were up all night, searching for the necklace that you have lost.” Her mother predicted. Martha was shocked; she felt her throat and then her chest. “Oh no!” Martha cried. “'Oh no' indeed; that necklace belonged to your grandmother, you know how important that necklace is to me, I was hoping you would pass it on to your daughter someday.” Her mother reminded. Martha felt terrible, she is also frightened by the idea of going back to the Empire to retrieve her necklace. “If you couldn’t find your necklace around the wreck, you might as well go out and search for it.” Her mother added. Martha went to her room to get her black hooded cape and went out to find her necklace; she thought of bringing her extra breakfast, in case she sees her dad at the Empire, working on an empty stomach.

Back at the Empire, Joe was out for his daily duties to check on his workers and making sure that everything is in order. He noticed that Aaron was gone, so he had his shark swim towards Aaron’s friends. “Where is Aaron? He’s supposed to be working at this hour!” Joe asked with a serious look in the eyes. The sardine knew he did not want to die of punishment, so he had no choice but to tell his boss the truth. “Aaron is… plotting something majestic.” The sardine clarified. Joe made a shocking look; therefore, he had his shark to search around the working grounds before Aaron accomplishes his useless deed. While Shark swims about to search for Aaron, Martha came and saw so many workers and many crabs keeping guard, that is until Joe calls all the crabs to come to the working grounds; it allowed Martha to sneak in without anyone noticing her. 

Martha had to look at the seahorses’ work-camp area since that is where she went to first. Just then, the runt seahorse recognizes the same fish that fed him food, so he swam towards her with excitement. Martha noticed the runt and wanted to say ‘hi’, but she knew she could not stay for long, so she just gave the runt seahorse a piece of barnacle chips. Meanwhile, Aaron was swimming near the top of the statue, trying to destroy it for the murder of his daughter; Aaron is having a hard time destroying it since Anthias are too small and weak to wreck anything made out of stone. Aaron then got an idea, he grabbed a piece of seaweed and decided to tickle one of the sardines, who are trying their hardest to hold up the piece of the monument without dropping it. 

Aaron went behind the sardine and tickled him; one of the sardines was shocked. “What are you doing? You're going to get us all executed!” The sardine exclaimed. “Not you guys, just me!” Aaron exclaimed. 

Martha felt a tingling from her antennas on her upper girth, something or someone is approaching her so she hid in one of the air pipes. Martha looked up and noticed her dad trying to have the sardines drop the piece of the monument. “Daddy, stop!” Martha called out, but Aaron did not hear her. Nevertheless, Joe heard the commotion and saw Aaron at the monument. “Shark, Aaron is at the monument!” Joe exclaimed. Shark saw Aaron and swam right towards him with Joe riding on his back. Martha noticed that the shark is about to go after her dad so she has to make her quick move; she grabbed a sharp stone and used the seahorse’s elastic reins to fling at the shark’s neck where the gills are. Shark felt the sharp object and started to flinch rapidly, which made Joe flew off the shark and bang against the monument. Aaron stopped tickling the sardine and go for plan B; he bashed towards the shark’s gills and cause the shark to wham towards the monument. That causes the monument to collapse. all the fishes and crabs retreated and left the seahorses. However, Martha quickly swooped down to rescue the runt. There was no way for a female Anthia to survive the ruins of the fallen rocks, but she managed to dodge the rocks and flew up to safety. 

After all the dust is settled, everyone came back in shock. Shark was under a pile of rocks. However, he manages to escape. “Boss, Boss?” Shark called out, then he heard mumbling from underneath; Shark saw that the mumbling was coming from Joe. “Oh, there you are, boss. What are you doing under there?” Shark asked. Joe made a mad glare; “Where… is… AARON?” Joe yelled. While Martha was looking for her dad, the little runt came back to cuddle her; as it was his way of saying ‘thank you’ for saving his life. However, she did not have time to cuddle with the seahorse; she needed to look for her dad before he gets into any more trouble with his sick-minded boss. 

Aaron was struggling to get out of the pile of rocks. After he was exhaustively free, he saw Shark with his boss on his nose. “Well, well, well… you have accomplished your majestic deed. As a reward, you will be the first to die,” Joe explained as he snapped his fin, the two crabs grabbed hold of Aaron and carried him to the execution grounds. Aaron did not care about Joe’s threat; he wanted to pay back for the murder of his daughter. 

All the workers and servants stand to watch the execution. “Aaron… because of your unformed behavior, I sentence you to death!” Everyone clapped since most of them agreed that Aaron is a traitor. 

Martha saw what is going on, she was afraid to make the move, but she did not want her dad eaten either, so she has no choice. 

Joe turned to his head-executioner, who so happens to be his shark. “Shark, eat up this traitor!” Joe ordered. “NO!” exclaimed a scared voice. 

Martha came towards Aaron to protect her daddy. “Leave him alone!” Martha scold. “Martha!” Aaron exclaimed with happiness then disappointment. “Go home! I have a punishment to accept.” Aaron ordered.

Martha took no notice; she cannot see her dad being killed because of her. “Please sir. Spare his life and take me instead.” Martha said with fear. Joe just stared at the black hooded fish, wondering what she looks like, but before he had a chance to make a response, Shark swam towards her. “With pleasure!” Shark purred. Martha was cowering with fear until Joe swam in front of his shark. “Hold it! Just one minute.” Joe ordered. Joe turned around with a smile and swam towards Martha. “May I speak with you in my office?” Joe asked in a calm charismatic tone. Martha hesitated when Joe laid a fin on her. “Keep your fins off of her!” Aaron scolded, as the crabs held him back. “Relax; I’m just going to have a word with your daughter,” Joe said with a wicked smile. Martha was scared of Joe since she saw the monument the other night. Also, how the monument almost crushed her this morning. She did not know what to expect from an actual ruler.

While Joe was escorting Martha to his office, Martha tries to remain calm by not saying anything while trying not to do anything to upset the ruler. In Joe's office it was huge and elegant. Unlike most sunken ships, the rooms would have been full of moss and rust; Martha had to admit that he knows how to keep the place clean. “Please, take your seat,” Joe said in a calm tone. Martha nervously sat on a large chair while staring into space. “May I get you anything? Please, have a snack,” Joe offered. Martha was going to refuse until one of the waiters popped a sea-log into her mouth. “What you did on the deck; standing up for your daddy, really touches me deeply. Normally, most family members just mingle and watch.” Joe explained. Martha was listening to what Joe was saying without interrupting. Martha hangs on to her hood to prevent him from seeing her face. Joe was secretly suspicious by her self-cautiousness and wanted to see why. “My dear, we have a dress policy about wearing capes,” Joe informed. Shark raised an eyebrow with confusion. “We do?” Shark asked before Joe shut him up by placing his fin onto Shark’s bottom jaw. “Would you be so kind and please remove your cape?” Joe asked kindly yet surely. Martha was too afraid to remove her cape. “uh… I'm a little too... uncomfortable to remove my cape.” Martha said nervously. Then Shark swam towards her face. “I don’t think you realize that when your master orders you to do something, you do it!” Shark exclaimed. Martha peeped in fright and removed her cape, while still hiding her face with her fins while silently crying. “I believe you have pushed her way too abruptly my friend,” Joe said to Shark. He realized that what he did upsets the girl fish so he decided to try to comfort her. “I did not mean to scare you, pretty snack--uh, I mean girl, you pretty girl; I love pretty lasses!” Then Joe swam by Shark to stop him. “Alright Shark. That’s enough, please back away for a moment.” Joe ordered. Shark remorsefully stands back, while Joe swims down to the terrified Anthia. “My dear Angelfish, you do not have to be ashamed by your appearance…” Joe gently took her fins into his, so he can get a better look at her. “I have seen fishes far worse than…” Then Joe froze as he sees the most beautiful sight; he has never seen a female fish with such bright colored scales and shiny crystal eyes. It made his eyes flicker. “Wow…” That’s all Joe can say. “Sir, about my dad…” Martha said as she tries to snap him out. That is until Shark came from behind. “BOSS.” Shark yelled. Joe snapped himself out after hearing Shark’s tone. “I’m sorry; I did not know what happened there.” Joe said while rubbing his eyes, “You were lost in thoughts, I think you’re in lo…” Then Joe shushed him. “Excuse me, miss; just a moment…" Then Joe swam by Shark’s ear, “I am not lusting, so keep your thoughts to yourself!” Joe whispered to Shark abruptly.

When Joe went back to his chair, he stared at Martha with a smile. “Now, let’s talk about last night. Is that ringing the bell?” Joe asked. Martha moved her dorsal fin back from her eyes before she spoke. “Well… I was concerned about my dad, and I wanted to check to see if he's okay… Was it you that put him in a cage?” Martha asked. Joe did not answer. “I'm the one asking the questions my dear; you're just giving me the answers,” Joe replied firmly. “Now, I understand you are worried about your dad; but we have a rule around here about trespassing and escaping the crabs, because of that; you will have to pay the price,” Joe said with a stern look. Martha took a breath before speaking with a peep. “I understand, sir. I will take whatever punishment you have for me.” Martha assured. Joe smiled. “Firstly, don’t call me ‘sir’; sir sounded a little ultra-dramatic. Call me Joe… please.” Joe insisted. “Okay… Joe… here’s my proposition; spare my dad’s life and let him retire, and I will do whatever you say, even if it means death…” Martha said bravely but nervously. 

Joe chuckled. “Anything, eh? Well then…” Then Joe swam towards Martha and took her fin to swim her towards the window. “...I can certainly make that agreement…” Then Joe wrapped his fin around her waist, which made her body quiver. “…But I have no wish to kill you, oh no; I have something a lot different in mind,” Joe explained as he and Martha looked out the window; watching the workers repairing the broken monument. “However, it can change your life forever, if you do decide on taking your dad’s place.” Joe added while side-facing her, waiting for her final answer. “If I say yes, will you promise me that my dad will be safe?” Martha asked with hope in her shiny eyes. “I can even promise you that your entire family will be safe, you just have to say the word.” Joe said with a little excitement. “Well then… I will do whatever it takes to satisfy you.” Martha answered as she was going to give Joe a fin shake; but Joe did not give her a fin shake, he gave her a lingering kiss on her fin. Martha did blush, but she didn't judge him for his temptation as her father would. “So, what’s your proposition for me?” Martha asked as Joe gave Martha a demeanor grin. 

Out on the deck, the crabs were still holding Aaron to prevent him from causing any more damage. Then Aaron heard a familiar gentle voice; it was his wife, Lizzie. She was shocked by what she has seen. “Aaron, what did you do this time?” Lizzie asked choked up as if she was about to cry. The crabs approached her with Aaron in their grasp. “I destroyed the monument with rage for my daughter’s death… but it turns out she’s still alive.” Aaron explained. Lizzie did not understand what Aaron was saying. “Where is she now?” Lizzie asked worriedly. Aaron was going to answer with guilt until he heard Joe approaching. Everyone applauded as Joe came back with Martha by his side; Aaron noticed that Martha has the look of terror on her face. Martha noticed her mother and swam quickly towards her. Lizzie had her fins open to hug her daughter. Martha started to bawl onto her mother’s shoulder, just as Joe turned to Aaron. “Congratulations Aaron; you are officially free from my grasp,” Joe declaimed. “Free him!” Joe ordered the crabs. After the crabs let him go, Aaron hurried over to Martha and his wife. “It's okay Martha; I am free now, we can all go home,” Aaron said, while gently patting his daughter's back. Martha stood up with underwater tears in her eyes. “I cannot go home; I made a deal with Joe in order to save your life, and to make sure both you and mom are safe,” Martha explained, while wiping her eyes. Aaron made a confused look. “What? What is Joe going to do with you?” Aaron asked while making a mad glare at Joe. Martha tried to answer, but she could not get the words out of her mouth. Joe swam next to Martha while placing his one fin on her shoulder and his other fin on her fin. “Then I will tell them for you… my Angelfish;” Joe offered. “Parents of Martha; your daughter and I… are engaged; to be wed,” Joe said while smiling with a grin. Lizzie’s heart broke after hearing what she just heard. Joe unexpectedly kissed Martha by the cheek; it made Aaron boil with rage. “No! I won’t let you!” Aaron yelled as he charged towards Joe, but Shark cut in front of him with a snarl. “Relax chum,” Joe said while holding Martha close. Martha squirmed out of Joe’s grasp to swim towards her parents. “Listen, I wasn’t expecting that sort of a deal, I thought I was going to take dad’s position as a worker, but he assigned me as his fiancée,” Martha explained. Her mom gave Martha a supportive hug for being so brave and altruistic. Aaron patted his daughter’s back and joined in the hug while whispering in her ear. “I'll find a way to get you out of this, I promise.” Her dad said, Martha smiled and hugged her dad. “I don't want to lose you though; I just want you and mom to be happy and free… I'm sure I can see you and mom again, very soon I hope.” Martha said with a positive attitude. 

Joe watched every moment and clapped slowly. “Bravo, bravo; you've made me feel sentimental. Too bad I have to split you three up.” Joe said as he grabbed Martha by the fin. 

“No, wait!” Martha exclaimed. “Please boss, spare my daughter, I’ll take whatever punishment you hurl at me!” Aaron begged. “Sorry Aaron. It's already an official, and I'm no longer your boss; you’re dismissed!” Joe announced. “Shark, take Aaron and his wife outside the Empire; they are forbidden to set a tail fin to this country,” Joe ordered. “If I ever see your face on my Empire Grounds, then your daughter is shark bait.” Joe added with a threat. Martha gasped; Aaron thought Joe was being serious, so he had to lay low until he thinks of a plan to save his daughter. Just as Shark was escorting Martha’s parents out of the Empire, Joe held Martha closer, as she was trying to go after her parents. "Now Angelfish, you may say your goodbyes from a distance." Joe said, as he was watching her parents leave. Martha made a shout out before her parents are out of sight. “I will find the necklace mom, I promise!” Martha cried as Joe dragged Martha away.

After a depressing goodbye, Aaron and Lizzie looked back with misery as they were being escorted out of the Empire.