This is my disclaimer! I OWN NOTHING THAT PERTAINS TO THE LITTLE MERMAID. Multiply that by infinity! Except my movie.

This fic is dedicated to a very close friend of mine as she is the BIGGEST TLM fan EVER, and of course she loves a good romance.

I am also contemplaiting writing a second TLM fic for Triton, please give me your thoughts. I wouldn't want to write something no one would want to read.

Please comment, and tell me how you like it.

-Onyx Ash

It is common for one to know the story of Princess Ariel, and Prince Eric. I do not doubt that their story is embedded in the minds of each and every human. Most definitely the young women. You'll have heard the story of Ariels beloved daughter Melody as well, as Ariels fame preceeds the family she chose. It is, however, most uncommon to have heard the story of the other seven sisters. Oh, goodness me have I made a mistake? On the contrary, I have not. Ariel, though you may believe different, was not the seventh daughter of Triton; she was the eighth. It is only the Merfolk that know of the first born child of Triton. The first born, dark skinned, cursed child of the first queen. The woman Triton fist fell in love with, but that is a different story all together.

And so I have come to a new tale. One similar to Ariels, but holding many differences. One of distaster, misery, but also of love. I come to the beginning of Tritons' reign, and his exotic Siren queen, Anoktet. The woman who stole his heart, and gave birth to his second love. Amelia, this is her story.

The day of Amelia's birth was a joyous one. Many of the Merpeople her anctious to see if the mating of two cousin races would mix well. It was said that their spawn would take the appearance of the Octomere. These were the enemies of the Mers. The Mers feared their first born prince or princess would resemble this gruesome race, but as it were, Amelia was born with fins; not tentacles. With onyx hair, and deep emerald eyes she was beautiful. It was her milk chocolate skin that caused the Mers ill. There were no merfolk with such dark skin, nor did any of them posess such a shimmering black tail.

It was these attributes that forced the Mers to believe she was cursed. That she would be nothing but trouble to their kind. It was this talk that Amelia took in and turned it around completely. By her thirteenth birthday the people loved her. Not a one would touch her, nor would they gaze upon her for more than three minutes; none the less they loved her. She had been through her mothers untimely passing, and her fathers remarrying with an unwavering smile. The people could see that she was a force to be reckoned with.

It was when she came of age that she realized just how cursed they believed her to be. At age seventeen she was to search for her future crown prince. This is where the trouble began. Many young Mermen lined the palace halls for a chance to be crowned prince of Atlantica, yet only one caught Amelia's eye. His name was Landon. He was of medium build, not flabby; yet not built like a race seahorse. his skin was a pale ivory while his hair was a deep auburn. He sported eyes of gold, and a shy white smile.

He was to be her choice. It was Landon whom she gave her heart, and he who returned it... Broken.

For weeks, things were wonderful. Amelia was glowing it seemed. She sang, and twirled where ever she seemed to float. Only seven weeks of this joy lasted. The two seemed inseperable, but more and more noticed Landon's refusal to touch Amelia. It was that one thing Amelia had dreaded, and it seemed to have come from her nightmares to reality. Landon was afraid. The coward.

"Do you not love me?" "Yes! Of course I love you, Amelia!" "Then why will you not touch me?" Amelia asked, unseen tears mixing with the salty sea surrouding them. "You, of all people, Landon!" She cried, her voice quavering with sadness and anger. Emerald eyes watched as Landon swam from the small patio in a huff. It was there that Amelia sat for hours, and then days. A week passed, and Amelia was found in that very spot. Her singing at a halt, and her head in a permanent bow.

Finally, Landon returned. He smiled brightly at her, though she was unaware of his presence. Landon placed a hand on her dark cheek, sliding his thumb over the skin in a caress. Amelia's heart skipped a beat as her eyes fluttered open, and her head raised. Then the realization hit her, and her heart crumbled. There, in plain sight, were bicep high gloves; formed from touch shark skin and the sails of sunken ships.

"What is this?" She asked, shoving his hand away from her. "Amelia, this is out salvation. Our solution." He said, sitting next to her; sure not to allow their fins to touch. "This? This is your answer?" She asked, moving away from him; horrified. "You truly cannot stand to touch my skin?" She choked on her words, her throat tightening with sorrow. "You come to me in armor, and claim it to solve our problems... It solves nothing, Landon!" She yelled, standing. "This solves your fear of catching some made up disease. Some... curse!" She whispered darkly, locks of onyx shadowing her face.

"You refuse to touch me, and yet you proclaim love to me?" She stammered. Landon stood to defend himself, but he was immediatly silenced. "You do not love me, Landon. Your pathetic terror won't allow you to love a monster." She screamed, slapping him across the face. It was there she left him dumbfounded, and terrorized. He was a slave to his fear, and to the society around him. Not thirty minutes had passed before she heard his screams of anger, mixed with his own fear of catching her 'condition.' She had to force down her own bile.

It had been the worst timing when the bells rang; when the announcement met her pointed ear. "Let all of Atlantica hear, the second born daughter of king Triton; Aquata, is to be married in four months to crown prince Romeyo!" The second born would be married before the first was even engaged? This was unheard of. It was the first time such a thing had ever been considered. The shame that hung over Amelias' head seemed to thicken around her. Her heart was broken, her family had chosen their future queen without speaking with her, and Amelia was left with what? Not a damn thing.

One month passed as Amelia wallowed in her own despair, and only Triton tried to condole her. "Amelia, we can try a different matchmaker. There are plenty of Mermen who would love to win your affection." He said, placing a large hand on her back. Amelia glared at her father, lightning seeming to strike out at him. "And how many of them will run when I reach out to hold their hand? How many will sit close enough to me that I can feel the warmth of their skin? How amny of them, father?" She raved, and Tritons' head fell.

"Get out." She said quietly, staring out her window. "Get out and don't come back." She muttered, shoving a lock of hair behind her ear. Triton glanced back at his beloved daughter from her door, wishing that he could do something. Even as king he had limited power. There was nothing he could do. Amelia though for a long while that evening, staring out her bedroom window. Her green eyes sifted out at the happy Mer community.

It was here that she made a decision. She would find the land of her mothers people. The land of the Sirens. There she would find her peace, away from cursed life of a Mermaid princess. She would relieve her father of his burden. The little cloud that hung over his castle. Not the first born, but the first mistake. He'd be the only one to miss her, but in time her memory would fade from thought. They would forget her name. They would forget her.

The journey, she knew, would be a dangerous one. She would have to cross over Octomere territory. Still the thougt of death did not frighten her. It was nothing but an action to be avoided, if at all possible. Amelia grabbed only two things from her room.

The locket her mother and father had crafted for her.

And a dagger.