I, Ache Vol. III

Fairy Tales | Little Mermaid

Written by 3cheeese

Ariel was sixteen when she first discovered the human world. She started collecting human artifacts and goes to the surface of the ocean with her best fish friend, Flounder, to visit Scuttle the seagull. Scuttle offers comical information about human culture which Ariel became very fond of. Despite the warning of her father, King Triton, and court musician, Sebastian the crab, she still longs to be part of the human world.

Ariel, Flounder and Sebastian traveled to the ocean surface one night, to watch the birthday celebration of Prince Eric. A storm hit, causing a tragic accident. Everyone was able to escape except for Prince Eric who went back to rescue his dog, Max. Ariel saved him and dragged him to the shore. She knew that he was still alive. She sang to him and quickly dove back to the water when Max came running back to the Prince. Once conscious, he remembered being rescued by a lady with a beautiful voice. He vowed to search for her and Ariel promised herself to find a way to join the Prince's world.

King Triton and Ariel's sisters knew that Ariel changed after that night. The king asked Sebastian about his observations, during which the crab accidentally slipped and told him about the incident at the surface.

"I warned you, Ariel! You are forbidden to visit the land as they will bring nothing but harm! You are a big disappointment!" her father yelled.

He used his trident to destroy her collection of human treasures making her sob in frustration. Flotsam and Jetsam, a pair of eels, approached a crying Ariel and convinced her to visit Ursula to make her wishes come true. And so, she did.

"I was told that you can help transform me to a human," she told Ursula.

"Oh yes, I can! I can grant you three human days but you must receive the 'kiss of true love' from the Prince; otherwise, you will transform back to a mermaid and belong to me," Ursula answered. "In return, you will give up your voice."

Ariel looked at her with hesitation but she gave in knowing what her heart truly desires. She nodded with tears in her eyes. Ursula magically took the energy from Ariel's vocal chords and stored her voice in a shell.

Ariel's tail turned into legs, leaving her naked except for the shell covering her breasts. Sebastian and Flounder helped her to the surface. King Triton learned that his daughter and her friends disappeared and ordered a search for them.

The Prince and his dog found Ariel on the beach. He suspected that she is the one who saved his life but when he learned that she is voiceless, he dismissed that idea leaving Max and Ariel frustrated because they know the truth.

Prince Eric took her to the palace to clothe her; the servants thought she was a victim of a shipwreck. The Prince and Ariel spent time together and on the second day, they almost kissed. When Ursula learned about the incident, she was furious. She disguised herself as Vanessa and appeared onshore with Ariel's singing voice.

"You are the lady who saved me," He told Vanessa.

"I was afraid you won't recognize me," Vanessa said as she cast a spell on Eric to make him forget about Ariel.

Ariel was heartbroken when she found out that Eric will be marrying Vanessa. She was left crying in the palace when the ship sailed. Scuttle informed Ariel that Vanessa is Ursula in disguise and so she chased the vessel with Flounder. Sebastian told King Triton about the incident and the King asked Scuttle to stall the wedding.

The shell on Ursula's neck was destroyed with the help of various sea animals, restoring Ariel's voice. The spell that Vanessa put on Eric was broken and soon he learned that Ariel was the one who rescued him from drowning. He rushed to kiss her but the sun set and Ariel transformed back to a mermaid. Ursula reverts back into her true form and snatches the little mermaid away.