The Little Merman

The Sea Witch

Ariel and Flounder enter Ariel's grotto filled with human wonders.

"Flounder, why can't you just tell me what this is all about?" Ariel laughed, trailing after his fish friend through his cave.

"You'll see. It's a surprise." Flounder smiled, leading him.

Ariel swims through the cave, stopping in astonishment, "Oh, Flounder- Flounder you're the best! It looks just like him. It even has his eyes." Ariel grinned, hugging his friend before swimming towards the statue of Wren.

Ariel spoke to the statue, "Why, Wren, run away with you? This is all so - so sudden..." Ariel laughs and twirls around. He gasps as he sees King Triton glaring in the entryway.

"Daddy!" Ariel yelps, Flounder hiding as he seen the King.

"I consider myself a reasonable merman. I set certain rules, and I expect those rules to be followed." King Triton said, eerily.

"But Daddy!"

"Is it true you rescued a human from drowning?" King Triton cut to the chase.

"Daddy, I had to." Ariel confessed.

"Contact between the human world and the mer-world is strictly forbidden. Ariel, you know that! Everyone knows that!" King Triton yelled, gesturing with his hands.

"He would have died!" Ariel blurted.

"One less human to worry about!" King Triton jeered.

"You don't even know him." Ariel argued.

"Know him? I don't have to know him. They're all the same. Spineless, savage, harpooning, fish-eaters, incapable of any feeling." King Triton ranted, glaring at his son.

Ariel came out from hiding behind the statue, "Daddy, I love him!" Ariel revealed, gasping once he realized what he said.

Sebastian bites his claw.

"No... Have you lost your senses completely? He's a human, you're a mermaid!"

"I don't care." Ariel denied.

"So help me Ariel, I am going to get through to you. And if this is the only way, so be it." King Triton's voice sank, the threat looming behind his words.

King Triton's trident glows with lightning and the room is cast in an orange glow. Beams shoot from his trident and destroy a globe. Sebastian ducks as he destroys various artifacts in the grotto. Ariel begged his father to stop, but he didn't. Triton's eyes settle on the statue of Wren. Ariel noticed.

"Daddy!... No, no... please- Daddy, stop! Daddy, No!" Ariel cried as the statue blew into bits and pieces.

Ariel collapses on a rock and begins crying. Flounder and Sebastian watch as the King leaves, with his head bowed sadly.

"Ariel, I..." Sebastian began.

Ariel whimpered, "Just go away." His head was still tugged away.

Sebastian pouts and turns to leave. Flounder follows behind.

Flotsam and Jetsam peer out over a shelf.

"Poor child." Flotsam fakely comforted.

"Poor, sweet child." Jetsam copied.

"She has a very serious problem," Flatam said to his companion, gaing the young merman's attention.

"If only there were something we could do." Jetsam said with false pity, pretending to think of an idea.

"But there is something." Flatsam grinned.

"Who - who are you?" Ariel stuttered, his voice rough from sobbing.