Ariel wanted to postpone her change for one more day. Eric begged her not to, but she wouldn't budge on her decision. She was going to make her last day on land something she would always remember. Ariel took Melody into the town and walked with her all around the town. They looked at shops, watched a puppet show, and took a carriage ride. It was rather similar to her and Eric's first date. Ariel took Melody back to the castle for a nap. She walked into the ballroom and stood in the middle of the floor. She wouldn't be able to dance in the ballroom ever again. She wouldn't be able to wear the pretty dresses she had collected over the years. The only positive thought that went through Ariel's head was that she wouldn't have to wear heels ever again. Ariel began to cry even though she knew it was silly. She was going to be fine. Home wasn't such an awful place. She didn't hate the sea she just loved Eric more. Sebastian came into the room.

"Ariel, why are you cryin'?"

"Oh Sebastian, I don't want to leave the land. I know you always wanted me to stay in the sea, but I never felt like I belonged there. When I saw Eric I just knew that I belonged on land with him. And now I have Melody and it's killing me that I have to leave her."

"Ariel, do you want me to come with you back home or stay here with Melody and help look after her?"

"I thought you'd want to go home. After all you were sent to watch over me."

"Home is a wonderful place, but I love Melody and I wouldn't want to leave her unless you asked me to."

"Sebastian would you stay here? Would you help Eric?"

"Of course Ariel."

"Oh thank you Sebastian. Thank you." Ariel was so thankful that Sebastian was willing to stay on land to help watch over Melody. Sebastian left Ariel to her thoughts. As soon as he left Ariel couldn't help but cry again. She wished she wasn't sick. Why was this happening to her? Was it punishment for all of the bad decisions she made in her life like making a bargain with the sea witch? She continued to cry until she heard someone else enter the ballroom.

"Ariel dear. Please don't cry." It was Eric and he was walking towards Ariel to comfort her.

"Eric, I can't help it. Why is this happening to me?"

"I don't know. I wish it wasn't."

"It sounded like you really wanted me to go back into the sea… to get rid of me," Ariel confessed. It had been a thought in her mind for a while now.

"Ariel! I… I would never get rid of you. How can you say that? I love you more than anything in this world. I don't want to get rid of you… I want you to live. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you…forever."

"Eric I'm sorry I'm just not thinking straight. I don't want to leave you."

"We're not splitting up. We're just…"

"Don't say it. I know…"

"Ariel, I'm so sorry this happened to you."

"You know I've been in this room for a while now and at first I was so upset over not being able to dance again. It's completely silly and stupid." Ariel laughed at herself and wiped the tears from her face. Eric stood up and held out his hand to Ariel.

"Ariel, would you like to dance?"

"Yes, yes I would." Ariel accepted Eric's hand and they began to dance around the ballroom. Eric twirled her and lifted her just like he had the first time they danced. They danced for a whole hour until they heard Melody crying meaning she had woken up from her nap. Ariel didn't want to leave Eric's arms. Eric kissed her forehead and said, "We should go get Melody. Spend some time just the three of us. Does that sound good?"

"Yes it does." Ariel and Eric held hands to go get Melody from her bedroom. The three of them spent the rest of the day at the beach building sand castles and playing tag on the shore.