Disclaimer: Stating the obvious, I don't own The Little Mermaid. The story belongs to Hans Christian Anderson, and the version I'm working off belongs to Disney.
Summary: "Do you think I want to see my youngest daughter on the end of some Fish-eater's hook?" Ariel's wandering could have gone very, very badly...
THE WORLD ABOVE
King Triton had warned his daughter again and again that humans were to be avoided, that she was not to go to the surface.
Perhaps it was the memory of his beloved wife, trapped in a fish-eater's net and screaming for him to get their children to safety, while the humans laughed about the fame and fortune that such a prize would bring them, that made him so stern with his adventurous youngest daughter.
But Ariel was sixteen, and immortal as all teenagers were, totally heedless of the dangers that came from running off without telling anyone, with only a fish for company or protection. And the more he tried to protect her, the more she chafed at what she saw as her father being unreasonable.
Their latest argument over the matter had ended in a shouting match, though Triton hated raising his voice to his children, before Ariel had swum away in tears. He had sent Sebastian to keep an eye on her.
King Triton had no illusions about whether or not the crab would succeed in keeping Ariel in one place, but perhaps his presence would inspire her to be a bit more careful, if only to spare Sebastian from Triton's wrath.
Despite their frequent clashes, Triton loved Ariel with all his heart, so when Flounder and Sebastian returned alone, frantic with the news that Ariel had been caught in a fishing net, attached to a large Human Ship, Triton didn't think twice about leaving orders for his warriors to stand ready to protect the Kingdom, should Humans come searching, summoning his elite personal guard, and breaking his own decree that Humans were to be avoided at all costs.
He would not lose Ariel forever to the land and its fish-eating barbarians.
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A/N: So I was listening to the Broadway soundtrack and watching Ariel's beginning when it hit me. Triton had a good reason to be wary of the Humans, no matter how fascinating they might be. If Ariel really had been caught in a fishing net, rather than a few moments curiosity, what would happen? So farit's just a quick 'what if', but may become longer if I get the inspiration.
