Ariel and the Adorable Snowbeast

Chapter 1 - Snow Is Dangerous

After two long and dreary days beside the glistening, green sea, the winter sun is allowed to shine. The winds blew oddly; the cold chillier than ever before. The blizzard came with no warning, trapping the castle and the village subjects of the kingdom under black clouds heavy with snow. The storm howled through the trees, whipped at windows and doors. Roofs almost caved in from how much snow fell from the sky.

It was under Prince Eric's command for all subjects to stay inside their homes until it was safe. Within the castle, no one was to leave their rooms before his call to the kingdom to come out. Nothing like this has ever happened to his kingdom; snow only touched the mountains hundreds of miles northwest, to the edge where the woods begin into his neighboring cousin Prince Philip's kingdom. It has been like this for hundreds of years. 

Ariel has never seen snow before.

For two days, she has been pacing about the bedroom she shares with her prince, twirling on her tippy toes from window to window. Never did the rumbles and roars of the blizzard frighten the princess. All throughout the hours, her face was glued to the panes, watching the lightning strike and the thunder's echo. She barely slept, excited to get out and feel the snow upon her face. Idly, she wonders what it would taste like, or what her feather-friend Scuttle would do in times like this.

"Snow...." Ariel whispers the word to herself. In her pink pajama dress, she stares out the wide window, reaching from ceiling to the black-and-white tile floor. Her feet are covered in the coziest slippers, gliding her as she spins, arms high and smile wide to the ceiling. "Snoooow!"

Two guards open the doors to the royal bedroom for the head maid of the castle. Cloak in hand, Carlotta marches in with a big smile on her face, her cheeks like apples from the cold. She curtsies, bowing her head. "Good morning, Princess!"

Ariel stops spinning to press her face against the cold window once more. She squeals with pure joy. "Look at it all, Carlotta! Isn't it fantastic?"

Carlotta giggles, shaking her head. "Ariel, won't you come from the window? How can you see beyond the fog you've created?"

The Princess turns from the steamed pane, holding her hands against her chest with her smile spread from ear to ear. "I have never played in the snow before!"

"Play?" Carlotta holds out the heavy, blue cloak, edged with white fur to keep bare shoulders warm. She helps the princess slip into the warm coat. "You are not to play in the snow, Your Highness."

Ariel lifts her brown brow. "Why not?"

"First, there are the civil duties of a princess to this kingdom. Eric has the trust of the people, and they need him now more than ever. Having this much snow can be dangerous for us."

Ariel ties the cloak closed around her waist with that puzzled look on her face. "Dangerous?"

Carlotta nods her head solemnly. "Dangerous. Now, come, come! The kingdom awaits!" She takes Ariel's hand to yank her from the windows, knowing the princess's strong curiosity. "First, we must get you dressed, Your Highness. The people cannot see what you wear to sleep!"

Ariel almost trips on her toes trying to keep up with Carlotta. "Why is the snow dangerous?"

"While you are dressed," Carlotta continues as if the Princess said nothing at all, "I will go to Louis to get you a banana and tea before the carriage leaves the castle."