During one of her many explorations, Ariel stumbles upon a bottle which has a message inside. The message itself is a plea for help from someone called "Simon", and contains a map that leads to the place where Simon is supposedly being held prisoner. Ariel, being Ariel, decides to go and help Simon if she can. Flounder and Sebastian follow along.

The map leads them down into deep cavernous water, where they eventually come upon what looks like a giant sea monster's home. Sebastian and Flounder are understandably terrified, especially when that sea monster (which is huge) makes its appearance. After a little hide-and-seek, Ariel and gang are "caught", but are surprised to learn that the sea monster is the Simon who wrote the message. It turns out that he's lonely and so sent out the messages in the hopes that someone would answer and join him for a party. Ariel's heart goes out to him, and even though Simon has some pretty bad social skills, she invites him to come back with them to Atlantica.

Most Atlanticans don't take too well to Ariel's guest, with the exception of King Triton, the ever-patient ambassador of strange and unusual creatures. After all, Simon does mean well, but he's inexperienced around other people/creatures and issues with self-confidence. More than once Simon makes mistakes — he's large and clumsy, so you can do the math.

But as luck would have it, the palace is attacked by looters. (Is it just me, or does the Atlantican palace get attacked a lot?) Whatever the case, the event gives the awkward sea monster the chance to shine that he's been waiting for.