"The Golden Shell Shines"

FanFiction Chapter One

Mark Pellegrino as King Triton

"What's going on?" said Henry.

Emma was telling him this story while she walked him back home from the bus stop…he wasn't paying attention to it much. He had the same attention-span as an eleven year old boy…mostly because he was an eleven year old boy.

He ran off to the center of town where there was a large crowd gathering. Emma hurried up after him; that new motherly instinct took over her.

Henry pushed past the people so he could get a front row look at what was going on.

In the center of the stage was a smiling red-head. Brunettes and blondes that resembled her stood on either side of her. The six of the girls sang together in harmony, but the red-heads voice seemed to be more unique than the others.

"Who is it, Henry?" Emma asked once she caught up with him.

"Let's see."

He dropped his backpack to the ground and pulled out his large fairytale book "Once Upon a Time." He flipped the pages until he came across a picture of a red-headed mermaid that resembled the girl on stage.

"There," said Henry. He pointed to the page to show his mother. "She's the little mermaid."

"What?" She looked up at her, confused. But then she remembered Archie was Jiminy Cricket in fairytale land. He was still human and did not turn back into his regular form.

Since Henry was into the singing mermaids she decided to do her duty as Sheriff and look around to check and see if everything was running smoothly. That's when she noticed the two people sitting next to the stage. One was a proud, middle aged blonde man when the other was another young girl…except she wasn't singing gleefully with the others. She sat quietly with her face looking down to her shoes.

Emma nudged her son, "Henry, who do you think they are?" she asked and pointed to the mysterious Storybroke citizens.

"I…I don't know…"

Then the girl looked up, directly at Emma. It was as if the girl could hear them…but how could she? She was feet away from them. Emma stared at the girl with dark eyes. They read that she was in pure torture.

The lagoon was so bright. The mermaids spent most of their afternoon there. Most of the mermaids' hairs were nearly dry. Some swam over to the waterfall. That's where Alana was until she swam over to her little sister, Ariel. She gave her a playful splash which didn't suit with the red-headed sister well. Ariel turned to Alana angrily and gave a big splash in return.

They chased each other until they came upon a large rock where Attina and Arista sat.

"I'd like to name my child something strong and unique," Arista spoke. Alana listened to her sisters converse while Ariel's mind drifted off somewhere else. "Something like Ursula," Arista continued, "It's a pretty name…and not all names start with a U."

Attina turned to Ariel. "Ariel…what names do you have planned for your children?"

"Oh, me?" Ariel looked at them. "Umm…I don't know. I don't know if I want children in the future."

Attina and Arista looked almost shocked. Alana softly smiled.

Suddenly Abella rose out of the waters and looked to them both nervously.

"It's father," she said, "He's looking the kingdom for everyone. We must go back down immediately…"

But it was too late. The king himself appeared out of the water. His trident was strong in his grip. His blue eyes were icy cold as they looked at each of his daughters. His harsh gaze seemed to stick on Ariel.

"What are you all doing up here?"

"Daddy I…"

"Was this your influence, Ariel?"

"No!"

"I can explain, father," Alana came in-between them. "The lagoon's waterfall gives us pure water to cleanse ourselves. We simply came up here to bathe."

Triton looked at his other daughters calmly. The sisters were sometimes grateful for Alana's manipulation and lying skills.

"Is this true, daughters?"

"Yes father," "Yes daddy" Ariel and the other girls replied at once.

"Very well. I don't want to catch you on the surface again."

"Yes father," Ariel did not reply this time. The others jumped back into the water. Alana was ready to follow them but Triton placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"I have something for you," he said. With that he revealed a golden necklace. Hanging from it was a golden painted shell. "For your eighteenth birthday. It may be in a couple days…but this will symbolize you becoming a woman."

Alana looked at it jaw-dropped. She held out her hands, her father placed the piece of jewelry on her palms. "Thank you, father," she said. She embraced him. It was very rare that she had this kind of time with her father. "Thank you so much."

The concert was over and the people of Storybrooke were headed back to their homes. Except for Mister Gold. He walked over to the girls…a smug look on his face. He looked directly at the shy sister with her face to the ground.

"Mr. Gold," greeted their father in an unfriendly way.

"Mr. Oceano…what a lovely performance from your daughters. Well, most of your daughters."

Ariel stepped in front of Gold. She glared at him, though to Gold she wasn't a bit threatening. He smirked at her.

"Get away from her, Gold."

"What happened to her?"

"We don't know." She said softly, "She doesn't have her voice. We don't think the curse broke for her." Ariel stared at him. Something twinkled in his eye. "That means you better leave her alone, Gold. She's not available for your using."

The girls walked past him…the last being Alana. She peered up at him from her shy slumber. He swore that he saw the teen smirk at him.

"Ariel?!" Alana shouted.

Her and her sisters split up. The youngest [and frankly most favorite] daughter of Triton was lost.

The purple and pink 18-year-old mermaid was desperate to find her. She loved her sisters very much and would do anything for them. However, Alana was the closest in age to Ariel. She knew a very dark secret that Ariel kept. Most of the other's didn't know…

There was a lagoon where Ariel spent most of her time. Sometimes when the other mermaids felt a little rebellious against their father, they would spend time in the lagoon as well. They would bathe or do each other's hair. There were many rocks there and the waters were shallow. It was where Ariel could daydream about being human. Alana hated that.

The lagoon was different without her sisters there. It was darker, and a soft haze drifted across the water. Alana kept her guard up as she scanned the area.

"Ariel!" she yelled. For a second she could hear her echo.

"Looking for your sister?" asked an unfamiliar voice.

Alana shifted in the water. She glared at the strange creature standing on the land near the lagoon. He leaned on a tree, a smug look on him golden face. He wasn't quite human…she had to be brave for Ariel.

"What have you done with her?" she hissed.

"Me? Well, well, well. Why would you assume I did something to her?"

"You know that I'm looking…"

"For your sister. Perhaps I know what happened to her…but I had nothing to do with it."

"What happened to her?" Alana snapped quickly.

"For that…" the man replied coolly, "there's a price."

Alana slunked back in the water. Only her eyes looked at the man. It took her a while for her to ask, "Who are you?"

"Rumpelstiltskin!" he exclaimed. He did this silly little bow, too. "And…what is your name?"

"My name is A—" She cleared her throat. It wasn't like Alana to trust people so easily unlike her gullible little sister. "Ursula…my name is Ursula." It was the first name that popped into her mind.

"Well then, Ursula, I'll tell you what. Go to the bottom of the ocean and fetch me some squid ink. When you return I shall help you find your sister."

"Very well," she replied. She didn't trust him but she would have to take a chance. Alana jumped back into the water in search for the squid ink this crocodile-like man needed.