Prologue
A/AN: This story is based on the "cover bunnies" contest on the OUAT fanfic and creations FB group. This story is inspired by this story's cover art made by Emilie Brown. I was selected at random to use this cover, and I hope you guys enjoy this story. The contest runs through June 30th so hopefully it will be completed by then. Please review and tell me what you think!
Belle settled on a flat rock, sunbathing beside an unpopulated island, enjoying the warm breeze ruffle her thick brown hair. She adjusted her pink shell barrette, flicking her tail back and forth. She gazed over the vast blue ocean awaiting the solitary row boat that came by this way once a week.
Belle smiled when she noticed the boat coming into view. She dove under the water, deciding to meet it halfway. She emerged above the water, clinging to the side of the boat while scaring its sole occupant half to death.
"Belle! What provoked you to scare me like that!?" the red haired girl exclaimed, clasping a hand over her chest from fright.
"Well Ariel it's quite amusing to watch you fall for the same trick over and over again." Belle chortled, clinging to the side of the boat.
"If I still had my fins I would get you for this!" Ariel threatened, giving her a sharp look.
"Yes it's a shame you gave them up for those atrocities." Belle scoffed referring to her legs.
Ariel tucked her blue dress around her ankles drawing her feet up to her chest, "It was my choice, and I'm happy about it."
"I just can't understand why you would want to be with one of their kind. They destroy everything they touch, and they care nothing for us." Belle chided, still clinging to the side of the boat.
"You honestly can't think they're all bad can you? I mean Eric is a good man. He cares about me, and I know it's-"
"True Love." Belle cut her off, finishing her statement.
"Must I also remind you that it was one of them who killed our own mother?" Belle reminded her, piercing her heart severely.
"Why do you keep insisting on these visits if you disapprove of my choices so much?" Ariel inquired to the chestnut haired mermaid.
"Because you're the only sister I have and despite how much I disagree with your choices, it still doesn't change things between us." Belle supplied pushing the boat towards the shore.
After Belle had pushed the boat towards the shore, Ariel got out and pushed it the rest of the way. The two of them settled on the flat rock Belle was lounging on earlier-two sisters from entirely different worlds now. One had chosen to live on land in the name of love while the other decided to remain in the sea against her better judgment.
"You know that when this month ends that I won't get to visit you anymore right?" Ariel inquired, daring a glance at her elder sister.
"Yes you've told me time and time again that you and your prince will be journeying across the realms together." Belle stated with a bitter edge to her voice.
"Belle…Do you hate me for choosing this life and leaving everything behind?" Ariel swallowed hard after asking her question.
"I could never hate you sis, but there have been some new developments since you left. Father's health is declining, and I will be queen soon. Father insists I marry because he wants to know I'm well taken care of, but I want to make sure I choose a husband wisely. I want Atlantica's alliances to remain secure." Belle supplied, her pink scales glistening in the sunlight. Ariel almost missed her green fins when she saw them, almost.
"I really do miss father…" Ariel sighed sadly, hugging her knees.
"He misses you too, but he honors your choice." Belle said with traces of scrutiny in her voice.
"I have an idea…Please just hear me out because I know you're probably going to say no." Ariel replied, a plan formulating in her mind.
"I'm listening." Belle retorted, giving her undivided attention.
"Eric hosts this annual Undersea ball every year honoring the land and sea dwellers. Every year during the time of the highest tide, Ursula grants our kind with the ability to walk on land and it just so happens that it's during the time of the ball. You say that you disapprove of my choices, but I would like for you to take a moment and walk in my shoes for just one night. Give up your fins and come celebrate with me! Besides it will be my last day in Nagisa. Eric and I will set sail the following morning." Ariel pleaded with the older mermaid.
"And you want me to go because this is how you found your true love, and you think I will find mine there as well?" Belle surmised, locking gazes with her sister's matching eyes.
"No but I want our last night together to be a memorable one, and I want you to be able to understand why I've chosen this life. You're always criticizing their kind but have you ever gotten to know one of them? They have plenty of misconceptions about us, and I can assure you that we've done the same thing with them." Ariel remarked, blue eyes burning into blue.
"Fine I'll go with you, but I can promise you that I'm not going to enjoy walking around in a pair of those. I'm sure I'll be ready to have my fins back as soon as possible." Belle scoffed analyzing her sister's ligaments.
"I promise that you'll see things differently when the night is over." Ariel smiled, softening Belle's heart a bit.
"I'm sure father won't approve of me going to such an event, but at least he doesn't have to worry about me falling for a land dweller. My heart will always belong to the sea." Belle replied, pushing herself off into the water.
"No one said anything about falling in love sis. All I'm asking is that you come to the ball with me before Eric and I begin our voyage. I want our last night together to be filled with fun and excitement. I don't want us to fight." Ariel added, swinging her legs over the edge of the rock.
"All right I'll meet you at the shoreline of Nagisa on the night of the ball. You better be there." Belle warned, a grin tugging at her lips.
"Of course I'll be there!" Ariel laughed, waving goodbye to her sister before she submerged back under the water, her pink tail gesturing goodbye in response.
"Maybe someday you will understand why I made this choice Belle. I pray that you understand." Ariel said softly to herself before returning to her boat. She pushed it back into the water, rowing silently back to Nagisa, wishing that her sister would find a love like she and Eric shared. Perhaps someday she would change her mind about the land dwellers and even let one into her heart. Ariel couldn't help but smile at such a possibility.
A/AN: Well I hope you enjoyed the prologue! Some of you might have thought Belle was being unreasonable towards Ariel, but she can't help but have her doubts. In this story Belle and Ariel are sisters. This isn't a rendition of The Little Mermaid but it will take pieces from the Disney version and OUAT. Please review and tell me what you think! There will be more to come shortly!