Ariel felt like a dried out fish.
She was riding in Eric's carriage, with Max on her lap and Sebastian in her pocket, riding through a desert of never ending sand and sand.
It wasn't like she could complain or anything, she was, after all, mute. It was her second day of being a human, and Ursula's spell held true. It would only be broken if Ariel could get Eric to kiss her. A kiss of true love. And even then, she would still have no voice. She would have just gotten out of being Ursula's servant for eternity.
"Don't worry! We're almost there!" Eric said, smiling. He was sitting across from her, and Grimsby – Eric's advisor/father figure – was sitting next to him.
"I'd forgotten how dreadfully hot Agrabah can get in the summer." Grimsby said, fanning himself with his kerchief, which had until an hour ago been folded neatly in his jacket pocket.
"It's the same temperature in the winter as well." Eric said, smiling.
Ariel had to smile at that.
"Well, it should be exciting, seeing Jasmine again. It seems like it was only yesterday that you two were trying to drown each other in the fountain." Grimsby said.
Eric smiled. "Yeah, it's amazing how fast things change. Though I shouldn't be one to talk, I was changing as well. You were the one who had to watch." Eric smiled at Grimsby.
"Yes, it's hard to believe that the little girl you used to visit every summer – until your mother died most unfortunately – is getting married! By the way, have you ever heard of this Prince Ali Ababua?" Grimsby asked.
Eric shook his head. "You know I don't Grimsby. You taught me everything I know about foreign affairs. How about you, have you ever heard of this Prince?" Eric asked, looking at Ariel.
Ariel shook her head.
"You know, Eric, you really should learn her name." Grimsby chided.
"I know Grimsby. Hey! How about I try and guess it?" Eric offered.
"Go ahead." Grimsby said.
Eric turned to Ariel, and she immediately felt her heart skip a beat.
"Hm, let's see . . . Aurora?" Eric asked.
Ariel shook her head, smiling.
"Belle?"
Ariel shook her head again, still smiling.
"Jane? No, okay, um, Esmeralda? No, alright. Meg? Giselle? Wendy? Tiana? I'm running out of ideas here." Eric said.
Ariel just smiled.
"You like being mysterious, don't you?" Eric asked.
Once more, Ariel just smiled.
Eric sighed. "Grimsby, do you have any ideas?" He asked.
"Try asking her what letter her name starts with." Grimsby suggested as he tried to wrestle himself out of his jacket.
"All right then, does your name start with an A? Uhh, I mean, does it start with an ai sound?" Eric asked, as the attempts to have Ariel write down her name had failed, since Atlantian writing was different from the human written word.
Ariel nodded her head, smiling broadly.
"Oh, well that was easy. Uh, Amy? Ariella?" Eric began before Ariel stopped him.
"Ariella? That's your name?" Eric asked.
Ariel spread her pointer finger and thumb slightly apart.
"Oh, that's close? Aria? Ariel? Ariel? That's your name? Hey, Grimsby, her name's Ariel!" Eric said excitedly.
"Yes, I heard that the first time, Eric." Grimsby said, loosening his tie.
"You know to dress lightly when visiting Agrabah, Grimsby." Eric said.
"Yes, I know Eric. I'm wearing the silk suit, not the satin one." Grimsby said, rolling up his sleeves, revealing his knobby elbows.
Eric shook his head, smiling, and turned back to Ariel. He frowned when he saw her wipe the sweat off her forehead.
"You don't feel woozy or anything, do you? I wouldn't want you to get a heat stroke. Is Max making you too hot?" Eric asked, a worry line creasing between his eyebrows.
Ariel shook her head, smiling.
"Your Highness, we're nearing the gates of Agrabah." The coachman said, peaking in through the window that allowed the passenger to see what was going on in the drivers seat. Strangely, his skin had taken on a bright red tone.
"Edmund! You're sunburned! Why didn't you tell me and let me take the reigns for a while?" Eric asked.
Edmund looked shocked. "I . . . I didn't think that it would be polite to complain, sir."
"I've told you before, don't ever do something where you get hurt over something silly like me getting too hot. You could have gotten a heat-stroke!" Eric chided.
Edmund, still looking quite astonished, shook his head. "Y-yes, sire. I-I'll remember that next time." He stammered before returning his attention to the upcoming city.
Eric shook his head. "He may remember it, but he won't do it." He said.
"Of course he won't, it's against everything he was taught, Eric." Grimsby said, taking out his journal to provide a more useful fan than his kerchief.
"I guess that saying is right." Eric said wistfully.
"What saying?" Grimsby asked.
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks." Eric said ruefully.
"Why don't you tell Ariel here about Agrabah." Grimsby suggested.
Eric shrugged, then turned to Ariel.
"Well, Ariel, I think you already know that Agrabah is extremely hot, and there's pretty much sand everywhere. They've somehow managed to make the palace gardens green, and the rest of the town gets most of their food from fishing, hunting camels, and fruit from the oasis's that are spread out around. There's one nearby, and it's a fairly large one. It's so large, that a river is running through it, fed from the sea. I think you'll like Agrabah, it's very lively. Just be careful of street rats and thieves in the market place." Eric warned.
Ariel nodded to show that she understood, and it looked like Eric was going to say something more, but the carriage stopped suddenly.
"We're here, you're Majesty." Edmund said, looking through the window.
Eric smiled at Ariel. "Come on, I want you to meet Jasmine. And I for one would like to meet this mysterious Prince she's marrying."
So, what do you think? Like it? Hate it? No comment? I need to know! I'll try to upload the next chapter ASAP, but remember, I'm writing two stories here, and I might start up a new one! Give me a break, okay! Review, comment, and heck, give me suggestions! I want to hear what you think should happen! I'll write soon!
~FantasticMysticalWonder