Thinking out loud

The Voice

This is a short story for a wattpad competition that involves taking a classic tale and changing it by giving it your own twist. The story I have chosen is "The Little Mermaid" which in its transformed version is called "The Voice"

Hopefully, you will enjoy it.
Please comment your views at the end of the story, I would love to know what you think about it.

[3161 words]
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Ariel walked along the shores as waves crashed against the sandy beach. There was something really calming about the ocean even if it was uncertain and raging. Ariel loved the seaside. He would often come to the ocean when he didn't want to stay at the giant castle. His mother brought him here as a child and ever since she had passed away, Ariel would come here to escape from his father, the great king Triton who showed his affection only when he needed his presence at a public meeting to show off his son, the son whose ideas and thoughts had been sculpted by his mother alone.

This particular morning, prince Ariel was walking bare feet on the sand and was being trailed by a rather enthusiastic Sebastian. Sebastian was a little redhead boy. Little, not because of his age, he was as old as Ariel, he was just smaller in size. Sebastian's father had been the general of the army and when he had died, king Triton had made him stay at the castle for three reasons. First, his father was the king's greatest soldier. Second, after hearing of his death, Seb's mother had committed suicide so he had no parents. Third, Ariel, the prince, had grown really close to the little redhead boy in the time when he felt alone. Sebastian was his only friend.

Sebastian was walking a few steps behind Ariel, picking up seashells. It was something that he really enjoyed. He was telling Ariel all about a new idea that he had when he suddenly shrieked and jumped back. Ariel turned around to see Sebastian staring at the sand where there was a hole and a little red crab had crawled out, scuttling away into the ocean.

"I'm not gonna lie Seb, that crab kinda looked like you when you blush"

Sebastian pouted, his button nose did a cute little wiggle. Ariel laughed and pinched his cheeks, making him blush. "See, I told you. Look at yourself all red" which earned Ariel a tongue teasingly sticking out of Sebastian's mouth.

Ariel would have made another comment, he loved teasing Sebastian buthe was interrupted by a high pitched scream. Both boys spun around to look at a girl standing at the edge of the cliff, surrounded by a mob of angry villagers. Although the prince wasn't allowed to go into public places without a body guard, he made exceptions and escaped often to help people. This was no different.

Ariel rushed to the crowd to see what had happened. At first the people kept shouting but soon the people realised the presence of the prince and made way for him. "What happened?", He asked an old woman standing in the crowd. "Disgusting people I tell you, she was kissing a girl. A GIRL! What has the world come to? Thank you for coming here prince. Show her where she belongs, she deserves to be DEAD." At the mention of the last word the crowd errupted in cheers and the prince visibly recoiled from the crowd. He ran to the side of the girl at the edge of the cliff. She had brown and pink lips and cheeks that were stained with tears. She sat there defeated and refused to look at anyone. The prince crouched down to look at the girl. He placed a hand under her chin and lifted it to face him. "What is your name?"

"E-Erica"

"Is it true Erica? Is this all because you kissed a girl?" The girl recoiled and looked away. "Don't listen to these people, they don't know what love is", Ariel whispered.