THE LITTLE MERMAID: PART OF YOUR WORLD

STEP INTO YOUR POWER

"ARIEL!!!"

I moaned, either in exhaustion or pain...I couldn't differentiate.

"Ariel! WAKE UP, WAKE UP! We heard the news! Congratulations! KIDDO, WE DID IT!!!" My eyes opened to Scuttle coming into the bedroom and shaking Ariel's hand. Ariel seemed half-asleep.

"Did what?" Eli mumbled sleepily.

"Hmm?" Mom said sleepily while Dad stirred.

I moved and got up cautiously. I was not about to have another episode. Victor followed, waking up immediately. It was already morning. I saw that Mom, Dad, Ben, Sam, Mary and David also followed suit.

"What is dis idiot babbling about?" Sebastian moaned, trying to get back to sleep.

"Right - as if you guys didn't know, uh? The whole town's buzzin' about the prince gettin' himself hitched this afternoon! You know, he's getting married!" Scuttle explained.

My eyes widened.

"That soon?!" I gaped. Victor gasped.

"Huh! That was quick." Eli commented, as he unhooked me from my monitor.

"You silly side walker!" Scuttle grabbed Sebastian and gave the crab a noogie on the noggin, and placed him on the bed. "I just wanted to wish you luck. I'll catch you later, I wouldn't miss it!" the seagull said to Ariel before flying off.

Ariel's eyes widened and she grinned. I couldn't help but be excited for her.

"Ariel! You're about to have your dreams come true!" Mary squealed in excitement. "Today's the day you kiss him and remain human permanently!"

Ariel kissed Sebastian, and swung Mary around before primping herself.

"I can already see it now! Ariel and Eric together forever!" Victor said.

Ariel headed out of her room and down the stairs, Sebastian behind her. I of course used magic to follow after her since I was still weak from the night's episode--

"Well, now--err, Eric. I-it appears that I was mistaken." Grimsby was heard to say. "This mystery maiden of yours does--in fact exist."

Ariel and I stopped in shock. There with Prince Eric, was a maiden we had not seen before. She had dark hair, pale skin, and dark blue clothes. Using my senses, I saw she had dark blue eyes.

"A-and she is lovely." Grimsby continued.

"What?!" I gasped. But ARIEL is the one Eric was looking for, not this girl! I thought. I looked over to Ariel, who looked like her heart was splitting into millions of pieces, and I felt absolutely horrible for her.

"Congratulations my dear." Grimsby shook the maiden's hand.

"We wish to be married as soon as possible." Eric said.

"Oh, yes - of course, Eric, but, er - but these things do take time, you know..." Grimsby advised.

"This afternoon, Grimsby," Eric said. "The wedding ship departs at sunset."

Ariel turned away, and me with her.

"Joshua, what the hell is going on?!" Mary whispered, possibly as shocked as I was. Victor, Ben, Sam, Eli, Mom, Dad and David all had come down to see the mystery maiden, and they were all just as confounded.

"I--I don't know...I--" I stopped myself, knowing that I was still very weak, and prone to having another episode.

"Never mind, we-we'll find this out. Don't strain yourself." Mary said, worried for me, and feeling awful for Ariel.