Ariel isn't scared.
She's not angry either. No, scared and angry can't illustrate her mixed feelings.
It's a strange preception, one she can't really describe.
Maybe... Exhausted. Worn out. Empty.
Yes. Empty. That's it. Like she has no strength left inside her. The light has died. She's given up hope. It's useless, this fight against Scar. Barely into level three and already the minions have caught up to her. Outnumbered, this time with no flying boy or a trio of fairies to come to her aid.
Defeated.
She hates herself for thinking such thoughts, but as the Hyenas close in around the room, blocking the elevator and the secret exit behind the bookshelf, the last sliver of hope diminishes. Sure, there's only seven of them, but the odds don't look so good for her. Seven against two; fighting is pointless.
Two.
Jim.
In all her mental anguish, she briefly forgets he's here. She hardly knows him, but it's simple enough to guess that he's aggressive, unafraid, and if she doesn't go down fighting, he will.
The thought isn't as comforting as she had hoped. Oddly enough, she finds herself longing for Aladdin. He's an annoying dumb fin, but he's not a stranger to her, and he's gotten out of worse scrapes then this.
"Did the others just leave you behind?" A man cackles, his pot belly poking out from under his black shirt. His breath reeks strongly of beer and cigarettes, and Ariel recoils in displeasure. "How kind of them, sacrificing their friends to Scar. He'll have to thank them personally."
He burps, moving a step closer to her, and she withdraws on instinct, bumping into someone else behind her. She flinches, unhinged, expecting one of the guys to grab her and haul her away, but it's just Jim. His back is to hers, and he's just as tense as she feels.
Banzai cracks his knuckles, a loud sound that disturbs Ariel's ears, nudging Ed beside him with a goofy grin. "We should dolphinately bring them back to Scar now." His grin only intensifies, his face beaming as he searches his partners expressions for approval. "Get it? 'Cause she's a fish?"
Ariel stares. Is he serious?
Nobody laughs, but Shenzi jumps at the chance to give her input. "I don't get it. Can you be a little more... Pacific?" She flashes half a smirk, the rumbling of chuckles finally escaping the darkly-dressed men.
"I got it, I got it, I got it!" The bad breath man pounds a fists to his chest, clearing his throat as if he's about to give some major speech. "When we've completed our task, Scar's going to throw us a shellebration!"
Ed cackles so hard he doubles over, hands gripping his stomach as if this is the funniest joke he's ever heard. Shenzi snickers, adding in another comment. "That's fintastic!"
Ariel blinks, grunting in distaste at these awful ocean puns. She'd hoped she would never heard a single one ever again after swimming away from home to be with Eric on land.
Oh, gods – Eric. He doesn't know she's here. He's probably worrying himself sick wondering where she's disappeared to. How long has it been since she left Storybrooke? One day? Two? Is he out searching for her? Does he even know she's not in town anymore, let alone Maine? What is he telling Melody?
She curses herself silently, her lost courage regenerating. She can't give up hope, not when her husband and daughter are still out there. She loves them, and she wants to see them again. She wants it more than anything right now. A few pun-happy Hyenas aren't about to keep her from returning to her family.
