Part of your world - A Stydia AU

Chapter 5

AN: Yes I'm back! I started this story in 2015 and abandonned it the same year but I suddenly decided to continue it! I don't want to promise anything, because I did before and I obvioulsy broke that promise, seeing I stopped writing this. But for now here's a new chapter. I read what I had previously written and couldn't help but feel I tried a tad too hard to be poetic, but it's okay. I was new at writing (not that I'm much better now) and practice makes perfect. This story is probably going to be a bit ridiculous, seeing as it's inspired by a disney movie, but I hope you'll enjoy it!! (It's not very long and there might be some mistakes because I wrote this pretty quickly and didn't want to read it over too much and get scared to publish it. please tell me if you notice any mistakes)

Lydia drew her arms around herself and shivered. She had been swimming for a full day now, only stopping once to eat some algae she had brought with her and whatever she could find on the ocean floor, and it was becoming noticeably colder. She knew the North of Atlantica was colder, but she had never imagined it would be this much. The mermaid had never gone so far in this direction. For once, she had listened to her father because when he talked about Ursula, he genuinely looked afraid, and that was not a look she saw often on her father, nor one she appreciated. She hadn't crossed the path of any other merfolk or fish for hours and she knew that she was well beyond the limit she was allowed to cross.

But this was important. Logic couldn't exactly explain the connection she felt with the human world and what she had felt with Stiles, but Lydia knew that she had to pursue this. She had to try and meet him. She preferred meeting Ursula, however dangerous that may be, rather than wonder all her life what might have been.

She found a suitable place to rest, sheltered by some rocks. Although she hadn't seen anyone here, she still felt uneasy about letting her guard down. But according to her research, she still had hours until she found Ursula and she reckoned it was better to have all her strength when meeting the Sea Witch.

For the first time in a long time, Lydia dreamed of Atlantica. She saw her sisters singing with her at the yearly assembly and her father smiling at them proudly. She saw herself playing with Prada, exploring a sunken ship and imagining the use of the objects they had found. That didn't stop her from waking up with her previous steely resolve. Today she would meet Ursula, and ask her to make her human.

"Hello, my child. What brings you to this far corner of Atlantica?" Ursula welcomed her with her arms wide open, and a big smile on her face. She was a middle-aged woman with white skin and hair. In lieu of a fin, she had eight black tentacles. Octofolk were pretty rare, but not unheard of. She really didn't look as menacing as Lydia had imagined. She invited the young mermaid inside her cave.

Once she was inside, Lydia tried to ignore the feeling in her belly that told her not to run. Something felt wrong. She wasn't supposed to be here. She suddenly wanted to scream.

"You must be tired, dear child. Why don't you rest for a little and we can talk afterwards."

The Sea Witch reminded Lydia why she was here. She drew her hands into fists and spoke before she could convince herself not to.

"I want you to make me human."

Ursula smiled, showing all of her teeth. Lydia felt small, like she was about to be eaten alive.

"Well, well. Isn't that interesting. The young Lydia Martin wants to walk the earth."

The mermaid tried not to show her surprise at the mention of her name. She hadn't told Ursula who she was, but then again she was a princess and most people knew what she looked like.

"Can you do it?" She asked again.

"Of course I can, my little starfish. But alas, it's going to cost something." Ursula appeared to be saddened by this fact, but Lydia couldn't help but feel that her dismay was an act. "You see, in order to give something, I must take something in return. Balance of nature and all that jazz."

"What do you want?" Lydia asked. Going into this, she had known it wouldn't be easy.

"I want your voice."

"My voice? Why?"

Ursula's tone changed. She became more stern and cold. "That's my business." She painted a smile on her face once again. "But fear not, dear child. We can find a way to get you your voice back. We need to find a stronger form of magic. Like drowning a fisherman and taking his soul." When she saw the shock on Lydia's face, she laughed. "It's just a joke, starfish. What we need is true love."

"Love?" Lydia asked, hopeful again.

"Yes, love. I've seen you before Lydia. You see, this crystal allows me to see further than what my eyes perceive. I saw you saving that human boy."

"You did?" Lydia couldn't help but feel uneasy at the thought. The moment she had shared with Stiles was very dear to her and she hadn't even told Prada about it.

"I did. Am I wrong to think he is part of the reason you want to become human?" Ursula inquired, her white teeth glistening. This woman smiled too much for it to be real. Nevertheless, she could give Lydia what she wanted.

"He is. So if I fall in love with him, I can get my voice back?"

"He has to love you too, my dear. You have to share a kiss for it to work. But careful, once I transform you're transformed, you will only have three days to make him love you, or it will be too late. You will lose your voice forever and you will have to return to the sea."

Lydia stayed silent for a moment, lost in thought. Singing had always been a passion of hers, the only one her father approved of. Her voice was also one of the only things she had in common with her sisters. As much as they loved her, she was too different from them to be very close. But it wouldn't have to be lost forever. She knew that Stiles had felt something for her. She had seen it in the look that they had shared before she disappeared underwater. She knew she was already halfway in love with him, and she could make him fall for her.

"Lydia? What do you decide?"

"I understand the risk."

So? What did you think? Sorry for posting this two years too late but I hope you liked it. In the next part they'll finally meet!