(AN: The Ursula in this story is NOT the same as the Ursula in the Once Upon a Time canon. It ignores season 3 onwards and so Ursula is my own character based in part on Ursula from Disney's The Little Mermaid.)
II
Flexing and beating her fins as fast as she could, Ursula darted around rocks and reefs and raced through the water towards the prince's castle, with the image she had just seen held firm in her mind.
He's done it. He actually has it.
She was nearly there now. The Sea Witch surfaced near the castle, her head hovering just above the water. Parting her long dark hair to look, she recognised the rock instantly. That was where the redhead was sat. Turning her head, Ursula saw a nearby beach on the edge of the forest. It was away from the castle, somewhere that she couldn't be seen.
Lowering her head back into the water, she swam for the shore. As she swam closer, her deep violet fishtail split itself into six and grew out into tentacles. Her pace became slower and slower as she transformed, until she was beating these tentacles as hard as she could to reach land. Finally, the tentacles gripped onto the sand and dragged her up the shore.
It was a narrow beach between the sea and the trees, through which Ursula could see a road leading towards the castle. The castle, however, she could no longer see. She stood upright on her tentacles and cleared her throat.
"Rumplestiltskin, Rumplestiltskin, Rumplestiltskin," said the Sea Witch in her deep voice. She had barely said his name the third time when the Dark One appeared before her.
"My, my, you are an eager one, aren't you?" he giggled. "I've barely had time to try this out for myself." He grinned and held up a necklace – a golden nautilus shell hanging from a black cord.
"I'm impressed, Rumple," said Ursula, smirking at the necklace. "You found a way to do it much faster than the Queen."
"She does try, bless her," said Rumplestiltskin, looking curiously at Ursula's dark purple tentacles. "Although she's very good at keeping an eye on things … as are you, it would seem."
"I have my methods," said Ursula simply. "Now, for our deal."
"Patience, dearie, patience," he said. "Let's not run before we can walk, so to speak." He let out a squeaky giggle, his eyes fixed on Ursula's tentacles.
Rolling her eyes, Ursula waved her hand. Purple smoke swirled around her, and cleared away to reveal a pair of legs instead of tentacles, and a long black dress.
"Now you look the part," he said. Ursula gave him a cold, sarcastic smile.
"I don't need a dress rehearsal. Now, is that really her voice?" she said, looking at the shell dangling from his hand.
"Oh, absolutely," he said. He put the necklace over his head and cleared his throat. "Oh, the prince!" Instead of his usual voice, the voice like a bell came from the Dark One's lips. "Oh, I love him! Oh, what I would give to be with him!"
Ursula smirked. "Clearly anything, if she's willing to give up that," she said as Rumple removed the necklace. "That lovesick girl doesn't know what she's doing."
"But you do, don't you, dearie?" said Rumple through his widest grin. "You know what you need to do with this voice if I give it to you."
"I do," said Ursula, "but tell me, what does the Dark One want with the Moranastice?"
"Sorry, dearie, I don't remember that being part of our agreement," he said in a cold sing-song voice. "Just get it for me and wait for things to develop between the mermaid and her twoo love," he said in a mock daydream voice, "and then, when the time is right, you make your move. I'll be waiting for my invitation."
"And you'll get it," said Ursula with another cold, grimacing smile.
Rumplestiltskin let out another high-pitched giggle, and the necklace disappeared from his hand. It was now around Ursula's neck, the warm golden shell resting over her heart. She opened her mouth and sang the melody that Ariel herself often sang. The imp hopped and clapped with glee as the witch heard a different voice to her own.
"Very good, dearie," he said. "Use it well, and remember – summon me once you have the Moranastice and the prince."
The Dark One vanished, and Ursula examined her new necklace. Holding up the shell, she saw tiny lettering on the underside: Ariel's signature.
Pity you couldn't just transform yourself Ariel, you'd have saved yourself so much trouble. And pity I couldn't just take your voice myself. But no matter, it's mine now. And those legs will cost you a much steeper price than you thought.
The Sea Witch stepped down the sand and back into the water; her legs transformed back into violet tentacles, pulling her further into the sea. The voice still hanging round her neck, she dived under the water. There was a splash of tentacles in the air before they vanished beneath the surface, and Ursula was gone.
III
"Ah, Madame Mayor. How may I be of assistance?"
Mr Gold was standing behind his counter as always. He was in the middle of carefully polishing an antique cutlery set. Smiling and closing the door behind her, Regina glanced at several items as she strolled towards him.
"I'm looking for a gift, Gold," she said, placing her hands firmly on the glass counter. "Something to give to my son."
"Henry. Is it his birthday coming up?" Gold picked up a tablespoon to polish. "How old will he be, again?"
"Not for his birthday, that's not until August," Regina said idly as she looked around. "And he'll be seven."
She looked back at him.
"No, I just thought I'd get him something," she said with the faintest hint of a smile. "He's doing so well in school, especially English. He's the best reader in his class."
"He's a bright boy," said Gold. "Well, if he's a good reader, we have plenty of books, but … perhaps not for his age."
He gestured over to a dusty stack of old, thick books sitting to the side. Even Regina didn't like the thought of tackling them.
"He's not doing that well, no," she said with a dry smile.
"Very well, let me see," said Gold, placing the sparkling tablespoon back in its case. Taking his walking stick he looked behind the right-hand counter. Regina stood still, examining the cutlery set as she waited.
"How about this?" he said. "Perhaps he's musical as well?"
Gold returned and placed a silver flute on the counter. Regina looked down at it and raised an eyebrow. She knew she'd seen it somewhere before.
He was waiting patiently for her response as she considered the flute. Her eyes widened as she realised where she'd seen it, and who it belonged to.
"No, he's not," said Regina, shaking her head. "I never much cared for music, anyway."
"Well, if you're sure," said Gold, taking the flute back to its home. "Have you any other ideas of what he'd like?"
Regina fixed him with a stare as he returned. Of all the things in the shop to suggest …
"You know what?" she said slowly. "I think I'll leave it."
"Very well," said Gold, returning to his polishing. "Let me know if you ever change your mind." He picked up a fork from the set.
Regina turned to go, but browsed along the left-hand counter anyway. The mayor ran her finger along the surface and looked at her fingertip.
"Place is looking dusty, Gold," she said. She grinned to remember the last time she had told him that, before turning to face him again. "Must be difficult to keep the place clean on your own," she continued, looking at the fork he was shining.
Gold looked calmly back at her.
"What do you suggest, Madame Mayor?"
"Perhaps you should invest in a cleaner. Maybe more people would come in then. I mean, you have this collection," she said, smiling and gesturing around the shop, "and no one really sees it."
Gold placed the fork back with the other cutlery.
"I think I'll manage. I normally do," he said coolly. "Good day, Ms Mills."
Cocking her eyebrow, Regina looked where Gold had replaced the flute. She turned on her heels and strode out of the shop.
IV
'Where would we walk? Where would we run?'
The song was still stuck in Prince Eric's head. The same song that had been on his mind ever since he woke up on that beach.
'If we could stay all day in the sun.'
His eyes were fixed on the horizon, as if waiting for a ship to appear. A ship that would come into harbour, and promptly announce that it was carrying the girl he was looking for. And then he would be able to thank her for saving his life.
'Just you and me.'
Eric knew he had to find that girl. And when he did, he would ask to marry her.
'And I could be part of your world.'
But where did she go? Where could she be? She must have vanished into thin air. Eric let out a long sigh and stepped away from the window. He sat down and pulled on his boots, humming the melody of the mystery maiden's song.
Eric made his way quickly downstairs and outside. His eyes fixed on the sea, he descended the steps onto the golden sand of the beach. He took a silver flute out of his pocket and began to play the tune again.
It was almost like being back there. With every note from the flute, he felt as if he was just waking up on the sand again: the sun in his eyes, her gentle voice in his ear …
As he reached the last note of the melody, he was back in the same spot. The place where he had woken up. He looked up and down the beach again, and found it hard to believe she could have hidden away quickly enough. Behind him was the cliff (he doubted she could have climbed that) and back the way he had come was the castle. She would never have gone that way, or else someone would have seen her.
Eric walked further along the beach. Perhaps – if she ran fast enough – she could have hidden in that direction, where the beach and cliff turned a corner.
But she didn't.
He sighed, and continued to stroll along the beach. He put his flute back in his pocket and reached the bend, looking at his feet as he wandered.
There was a shifting sound ahead. Eric looked up, and halted in alarm.
It was a girl. Or more a young woman, really. She was sitting on a rock in the middle of the beach, and looked equally stunned to see him. But as Eric carefully stepped closer she looked delighted to see him, hastily smoothing out her long, bright red hair.
She also seemed to be wearing very little.
"Uh … are you okay, miss?" he asked. He didn't dare look directly at her in case he seemed rude.
Where did she come from?
Perhaps she was like him, washed up from a shipwreck. Clearly she'd had a rougher time than he did. What if she was rescued by the same girl?
If she was, maybe she knows where she is.
The girl hadn't spoken. She was just nodding and smiling at him. Eric was getting ahead of himself. She needed help – she needed clothes.
"Here," he said, quickly taking off his shirt. "Put it on," he said kindly, holding it out without looking at her.
The girl hesitated, and then slowly took it from him. Eric looked at his feet and waited for her to say something. He could hear her putting on his shirt, and then saw her feet step onto the sand.
"Better now?" he asked the sand.
Suddenly, all he could see was red as she stumbled straight into him. Her tangled wet hair in his face, he staggered back and held her round the middle.
"Whoa, whoa," he said, steadying the both of them. "Are you okay?"
She held onto his arms and tried to regain her balance. As Eric tried to help her stand properly, she seemed to be having trouble. She must have been exhausted.
"Careful. Why don't we sit down?" he said. She looked up at him, embarrassed at what she had done, and nodded.
Eric gently lowered her onto the sand and sat beside her, facing out to sea. Thankfully his shirt covered most of her, so he didn't feel guilty to look at her properly. She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She had eyes as blue as water, and hair as red as flame. And a dazzling smile that would not disappear.
"Better now?" he repeated with a smile. She nodded shyly, her eyes not leaving his. "You don't speak much, do you?"
She opened her mouth instinctively, and then silently shook her head.
"Can you speak?"
Again, she shook her head sadly.
"Well, that's okay," he said. "You can understand me, right?"
She smiled again and nodded.
"Okay, then, let's see," he said thoughtfully. He turned to face her properly and scratched his chin. She did the same. "Where did you come from?"
The girl pointed out to sea.
"So you're from another land?"
She considered this for a moment, and then nodded slowly.
"How did you get here?"
She made a wavy motion with her hand, like a fish.
"You swam here?"
She nodded.
"Oh, wow. Why?" he asked. "I mean, were you in a shipwreck?"
Again, she thought about the question for a second or two. She then nodded enthusiastically, as though very satisfied with her answer. Eric was shocked by how happy she looked.
"Me too. But somehow, I survived as well."
The girl looked very interested at this. She nodded him to say more.
"Well … now, don't tell anyone about this. You know what I mean," he said at the look on her face. "But I'm sure I was rescued. I just … woke up here, and I could hear someone singing. A girl. But then she just disappeared and -"
The girl was now nodding with excitement.
"What? What? What are you trying to say? Have you seen her?"
She shook her head, irritated. She was pointing to herself.
"She rescued you too? No? Whoa, careful," he said as she impatiently tried to stand up.
Eric stood up to help her, just in time for her to lose her balance again. He caught her round the middle and she caught onto his shoulders.
"Careful. Easy, easy," he said softly, holding her steady again.
She looked up into his eyes again, her hair strewn over her face. Eric raised a hand to brush it gently aside, and she closed her eyes and took a breath. He couldn't tell whether it was out of comfort or frustration.
"Gee, you must have really been through something," he said, and she opened her eyes again to stare into his. "Don't worry, I'll help you," he assured her. "Let's go back to my castle, okay? Here."
Letting her hold onto his shoulder, he helped her gain a proper footing and they set off.
"Let's just forget about it now. You'll be okay."
As they rounded the corner of the cliff, and the castle came into view, Eric's hand slipped down to his pocket to check that his flute was still there.
