Author's Note: I just felt like writing a short story on what happens to the Little Mermaid and the prince. Love it or hate it? Let me know. :\ And thank you in advance if you took the time to read this story. Really appreciate it. (:

The Not So Little Mermaid

"Untie me this instant!" the prince struggled with the ropes that Daphne had wrapped him in. She pushed him into a small boat and began rowing with all her might. She stopped once they were in the middle of the river. Daphne pulled out a fishing pole with a filthy worm on the hook and cast the line into the water. Moments later, the water around them started bubbling wildly. Instead of a school of fish, an army of muscular mermen bursted into the surface. They held out tridents and pointed them at Daphne and the prince threateningly. Behind the army was a huffing and puffing overweight mermaid with fiery red hair.

"Grimm!" she sneered as she caught her breath. Daphne had noticed she had lost a bit of weight compared to the last time they had seen each other. The mermaid saw Daphne eyeing her new figure and bragged, "That's right. I'm getting myself together again. I've been swimming more lately and I've also been eating nothing but kelp salad." She twirled proudly. "Now, what kind of fool would come back to this river when they know perfectly well that almost 10 years ago, I swore I would have them killed? I could smell your thieving behind all the way from my kingdom."

"I've brought someone with me," Daphne calmly pointed to the prince.

"YOU?" The mermaid glared at him. "How dare you bring him over here?"

"I know you didn't get your happily ever after, and I really want you guys to work it out," said Daphne. "Just like in the movie."

"That movie was a LIE!" The mermaid shrieked. "We didn't end up getting married nor have a child named Melody! No, he left me for some other woman! A topsider. After all I gave up for him. My voice, leaving my family behind, the pain that felt like I was stepping on swords every time I walked with those horrible human legs! But no matter how painful it was, I still managed to smile because I got to see his face. I risked everything for him! But even though he broke my heart, I couldn't kill him. How stupid was I? It's pitiful that I still loved him then. I was to turn into sea foam if it wasn't for my father who gave up his life in exchange for mine. And now here I am the mermaid who has taken his place, Ruler of these waters. The little mermaid from all those years ago is no longer here. She had a heart. Something you won't find in me."

"Ari?" The prince looked at the mermaid. "Is it really you?"

"Don't call me that!" she snapped.

"Ari, I'm sorry." The prince's face fell. "I-I-I didn't know. I thought the temple girl had saved me that day."

"Hmph!" The mermaid crossed her arms.

"Well, we're no longer together. She left me for a younger man. One with a full set of hair." He ran his fingers through the thinning dark locks on his head.

"HA! I hope your heart broke the way mine did!" She said coldly.

"It did. I was in so much pain; I didn't know what to do with my life anymore. And now I'm this pathetic man living with his mummy and daddy again." He leaned in towards the mermaid. "I'm sorry Ari. I'm sorry for everything I made you go through."

The princess lifted her head in surprise and commanded her army of mermen to lower their tridents. "I didn't think I'd ever hear that from you."

"Well believe it. All this time I had gone after the wrong girl, but now I know who the one for me really is. I've never forgotten you." The prince took the mermaid's hands in his own as Daphne untied him. "The truth is that woman and I never really had anything in common. She wasn't that great at dancing or singing. Heck, she couldn't even swim! That's when I started having doubts if she was the one that saved me. Ari, you're beautiful inside and out and I love you. Will you take me back?"

The mermaid took the prince's face in her hands as she leaned in and stared deeply into his eyes. She smiled sweetly as she softly caressed his cheek. "Eat. Your. Heart. Out." She snarled.