The Little Mermaid 2

Chapter 5: Who Is Mel?

  With Sebastian...

The small red crab thought about this logically. If Melody had run away she had to take one of Erics rowboats.

Sebastian swam onward back to Melodys castle then out to sea again. Around 20 miles out, Sebastian caught the sent of stingrays in the current. He decided to follow it.

With Melody...

"Of course Ill help you. I owe you. Now where do I go?" Melody asked nervously.

"Atlantica sweetie." Morgana drew Melody a map.

"So its not just a fishtale, it really exists?!" Melody asked excited.

"Of course it exists dear,  who else has told you otherwise?" Morgana asked handing the map over.

"My mother."

"Im sure she didnt mean to be cruel and deciteful." Morgana said.

"Ill bring back your tridemt, you can count on me!" Melody exclaimed.

With Ariel...

"Daddy, is something going on?" Ariel swam up to her father the next morning. She noticed how the merfolk would look at her with pity then swam away whispering.

"No nothing is, everyone is just really busy." Triton said distractedly as Sebastian swam up.

"Your Majesty, a new develpopement has come up. M is on her way here." Sebastian said cautiously knowing Ariel was listening.

"Why would Morgana come here?! Daddy you banished her!" Ariel said confused.

Triton sighed. "Anything else?'

"It is as we feared M is under the the tricksters control." Sebastian whispered.

Tritons eyes widened. Now the new plan would be to stop his granddaughter from leaving without Ariel finding out. The hardest part, Triton had no idea what Melody looked like.

"Do whatever you can to have her see reason...if you can find her." Triton replied.

"Ok." Sebastian gulped then swam away.

Triton rounded on his daughter, thinking hard. "Sebastian why dont you show Ariel where you believe Morganas liar is."

"Your Majesty, what about..?"

"That will be my problem now." Triton said firmly.

With Melody....

The young girl saw the beautiful castle in the distance. Melody tucked her locket in her shirt. But she had to think about this. Who could show her the ins and outs?

A mermaid with an orange tail swam up to her. "Hello what is your name?"

"Im Mel, what about yours?" Melody asked.

"Attina, hmm..I didnt know we had a visitor at the Palace. Oh well, thats so like Daddy." Attina sighed.

"Im sorry I just arrived here from far away, who is your father?" Melody had the feeling Attina knew some important people.

"Hes King Triton." Attinas brow went up.

"I heard about how His Majesty had seven beautiful mermaid daughters. I uh.. Only wanted a tour of your beautiful home, if thats ok?" Melody asked shyly.

"Of course! I'll give you the tour myself. But you are wrong about one thing, Daddy no longer has seven mermaid daughters. My youngest sister Ariel is now part mermaid. She lives her life on land now mostly. Cant blame her, she does have an adoreable daughter to raise." Attina explained.

"Do you see Ariel often?" Melody asked as they approched the princesses bedroom.

"Only here and there. Now this is our room. The view is soo cool, check it out." Attina said gesturing to the window.

Melody loooked out amazed. "I heard some pretty long fish tales about Ariel and her daughter. Maybe you can set them straight?"

Attina looked up suspicious. "Why the intrest in my sister?"

"No reason, but isnt this the biggest piece of gossip since that human destroyed that evil sea witch?" Melody asked.

Attina let her defenses  down. "That is true. The current has been very calm for 13 years. But we all know that a storm is brewing. To your left is the Throne Room where Daddy sits and makes his big decisions. Over there is his trident." The mermaid nodded to the large pitchfork.

Melody felt guilty trickimg her aunt, worrying her parents and all out avoiding her grandpa. "Can you tell me more about the trident?"

"No one but the direct decendants of the present king can remove the trident from the stand. Daddy is probably busy dealing with the Morgana business as usual. Why Ariel has to stir up all the seaweed is a mystery to me." Attina muttered.

The two continued on with the tour. Melody was growing annoyed, she wanted to meet Triton so he could help her with her plan.

"Now the last room is here - oh hi Daddy! Mel this is King Triton, my father." Attina said looming up at the merman.

"Your Majesty." Melody dropped to a bow.

"Rise young one. Attina, is Adella doing her string lessons?" Triton asked exhasperated.

"Yes Daddy. Bit I'll check to be sure." Attina swam away.

"Your Majesty?" Melody asked shyly.

Triton turned to look at Melody curiously. "How can I help you Mel?"

"What can you tell me about the trident. Attina told ne a few things, but I only heard stories about it. Is it true about the amazing powers it has?" Melody asked curiously.

Triton opened his mouth when a tiny seahorse swam up to him. "King Triton, your daughter has returned!"

"I'll talk to you later Mel, hmm..i wonder if Ariel has found Morgana." Melody heard him mumble.

If Ariel was returning, Melody had to scatter. She swam back to the throne room gazing at the trident a second. "Im sorry Mother, Grandfather, but I have to do this." With one big heave, Melody pulled the trident from its stand. To leave them a clue, Melody tugged on the gold chain of her locket letting it fall to the sea floor. She then swam towards where Triton and her mother would be.

"...Im sure we can track that scaly octopus down." Triton told Ariel.

"Daddy, I just hate that I have to hide this part of me from Melody just to keep her safe." Ariel groaned frustrated.

Melody sighed allowing her shadow to be seen by the pair. Triton and Ariel began to persue Melody when, Sebastian swam in their path.

"Your Majesty, the trident is missing!"  Sebastian panted.

The pair wasted no time going to the throne room where the trident was gone.