Chapter 14

Walking back into Prince Eric's palace made Ariel feel warmly welcomed like the first time when she came to the castle, now it feels like she's in a new home. Eric opens the doors for them to enter through and asked some of the maids to set up a bath for Ariel. Ariel was a bit scared of getting herself wet when the bath was done, but she forgotten that she is now fully human, not a drip of water will transform her human legs into her green tail. After dipping in the bath, Ariel enjoyed playing around with the white bubbles floating and popping on the surface of the bath. Carlotta was in the room with a cheerful welcome, "It's lovely to see you back again, dear."

"Now, you stay and relax, while I'll…" Carlotta walked up to collect the sailing sheet that A was wearing, and Carlotta easily hide the disgust on her face with a weak smile, "…I'll wish your… um… clothing." When Carlotta left the bath room, she commented to herself, "God knows, the poor child has no taste in sheets or clothing. Or possibly can't tell the difference?"

Finally relaxed and calm, Ariel needed to get her head clear and start thinking about the deal she accepted from Ursula. Ariel knew she could kiss Eric then she could become fully human forever, but it was the last part of the deal that was troubling her 'If Eric accepts Ariel for who she really is, then she could turn back into a mermaid again.' The troubling slowly sinking Ariel underneath the fresh water until her head touched the bottom, she opened her eyes any Ariel was only blind with a blurry vision as she gazes up to the surface. She sucked in the water as air to fill her lungs feeling the water air she used to breathe when she was under the sea. However, Ariel only coughed it right out with large bubbles to float up to the surface as she quickly raised back above the surface and coughed out hard all the water, she breathe in then breathed in the new air she could only use. Laying her arms over the edge of the tub and started to breathe slowly to calm herself, then Ariel relax her head against the edge.

Thinking to herself, "I can't breathe, but I can't go back."

Knowing that she can't be able to breathe underneath the water again, but Ariel couldn't stand to come back to the Kingdom of Atlantica. Ariel hatred leaving her family but Atlantica wasn't her homes anymore. This new life above the surface might need to get used to, but Ariel like the life before and everything she sees and everything she has done with Eric was the greatest change she has ever accepted in her old life. Slowly closing her sleepy eyes and relax for a short while.

Meanwhile outside the castle, Sebastian was still holding on tight on Max's long, furry tail as the dog rushed through the castle's gate and stopped just by the outside walls of the castle. Max stood very still at first then quickly stretched his back left leg up and Sebastian knew exactly what the dog was about to do. Before Max could start his own business Sebastian crawl fast along on Max's long, furry tail and up his left leg that Max lifted. Jumped off high and hanged on a green string of vines which grows along the side of the wall to the top of the roof. Sebastian crawled up the vines then stop and looked down tirelessly at the dog and whispered, "Disgusting thing."

Sebastian continued crawling the green vines until he reached to an open window and jumped himself through until he landed hard on a large wooden table. He pulled himself back up then an unexpected loud humming coming over the large bowls and plates filled with green salad. Sebastian crawled over slowly to the edge of the table and spotted small man wearing a yellow shirt with a big, red bow-tie in the top centre of his chest, black pants, and white chef hat and white apron. It was a human who was named, Chef Louie of the castle cooking the main meals for today, he had held a delightful look on his moustachioed face and cheerful, Frenchie voice as he shifted hard over the steamy cook fish. Then the chef brought a big, blue bowl of fish and placed them on a small table in the centre of this area of the kitchen. The chef rolled up his sleeves and grew a wide grin.

Les poissons, les poissons
How I love les poissons
Love to chop
And to serve little fish

Louie started chopping the heads of the fish which made Sebastian shrunken his head down into his shell hiding in fear.

First, I cut off their heads
Then I pull out their bones
Ah mais oui, ça c'est toujours délice

Sebastian held his claw to cover his mouth for he was about to badly throw up.

Les poissons, les poissons
Hee-hee-hee, hon-hon-hon
With a cleaver I hack them in two

Sebastian couldn't stand there and watch the human digesting the fish, so he quickly rushed around and scanned for a way to escape. After another loud chop that shaken the wood floor of the table, Sebastian ignored it and focus on escaping when he unfortunately ended up facing a dead head of a fish as it was facing him fearfully. Sebastian could scream to death, but he didn't want to reveal his appurtenance to the human.

I pull out what's inside
And I serve it up fried
God, I love little fishes, don't you?

Louie fried all the small parts of the fish in boiling hot pan, steered them around and finally served them on a large, silver plate.

Here's something for tempting the palate
Prepared in the classic technique

Louie was coming towards the large table where Sebastian was standing, so Sebastian quickly picked up a big, green letters to cover himself over. Meanwhile Louie slammed a large silver fish on a hard, chopping board, while Sebastian was hiding, he could see the scary visions of the human chopping, disgusting, and other creepy things to torture.

First you pound the fish flat with a mallet
Then you slash off their skin
Give their belly a slice
Then you rub some salt in
'Cause that makes it taste nice

Afterwards, Louie noticed the little letters laying down on the table and picked it up unexpectedly saw a small, red crab hiding underneath it.

Zut alors, I have missed one!
Sacre bleu! What is this?
How on earth could I miss
Such a sweet little succulent crab

Louie picked up the red crab scanning if it's real because Louie was shocked to see the crab laying around without noticing it.

Quel dommage, what a loss
Here we go in the sauce
Now some flour-I think just a dab

Louie threw Sebastian into a pool of light brown sauce, Sebastian managed to get himself half-way out of the sauce but unexpectedly the chef threw lots of white flour into Sebastian's face which made the red crab sneezed.

Now I stuff you with bread
It don't hurt, 'cause you're dead
And you're certainly lucky you are

After picking the red crab out from the sauce, Louie forcefully stuffed with lots and lots of green letters and salad into the top hole where Sebastian's head come out to. Sebastian manage to pop all the green salad out of his red shell.

'Cause it's gonna be hot
In my big silver pot
Tootle-loo, mon poisson, au revoir!

The chef finally threw Sebastian high over to boiling hot, black pot so the small red crab could be boiling cook and ready to serve. Luckily, Sebastian grabbed tightly on the edge of a wooden spoon which was laying on the side of the black pot. A large bubble popped above the bubbly surface and splatted on Sebastian which shocked him to jumped over the edge of the pot and landed on the wooden side close to the side of the hob.

Catching the chef's attention as he trapped Sebastian in between the sharp points of a parallel stick feeling its cold, metal skin pushed between the sides of his red shell. Lifting the small crab up while Sebastian suck his head inside of his head away from the terrifying human. The chef scanned in suspicious about this crab with one of his eye brows risen, "What is this?"

Fear took control of Sebastian as his bravely reached his claws out and snipped sharply on the Louie's nose. Louie cried in pain and Sebastian was drooped out falling from the human's hand. Landed on the edge of a small, silver pan's handle Sebastian looked up in fear of the human with angry eyes aiming down at the red crab as Louie reached out to grab the sly crab. Luckily, Sebastian jumped out of the way just in time before the giant hand could garb him, unfortunately for Louie instead of his hand wrapping his fingers around that sly crab his fingers touched the boiling liquid from the hot pan. Screamed louder in more pain, what worse is his hand accidently swings the handle around toping the whole hot pan off from the hob and landed on his foot. Louie was hopping from his painful foot which increased his roaring eyes of rage as he eyes down at the sly, red crab rushing on the floor to hide underneath a table. Louie grabbed a bunch of long, sharp chopping knife and threw all of them at once directing at the red crab, fortunately Sebastian managed to get underneath in time without being sliced through.

Unpredictably, Louie furiously flipped the table over and the table clashed down loudly to its side. Louie scanned quickly for the sly crab as it somehow disappeared from hiding underneath the table to vanished out of salty air. Until, Sebastian was spotted rushing out far off toward the other side of the room where he was heading towards the window. Flashed before his eyes, a wide, sharp cleaver knife infront of Sebastian making the red crab stop still with his legs rattling in fear. Following his gut as Sebastian sprinted as fast as lighting and dashed in between Louise' legs, racing towards a large, wide shelf filled with small and big plates, boles, jugs, tea pots, cups and vine glasses. Sebastian quickly climbed up the side of the shelf and hidden himself behind a large bowl as Sebastian noticed the chef was running up towards him while holding a knife. Louie jumped for aiming directing at where he eyed at the red crab while roaring out with a fiery rage.

The clashes of broken of glasses and plates echoed loud throughout the entire castle from the bottom to the highest towel. Carlotta was dropping the wet sheets Ariel was wearing into a large, empty bucket, she and all of the maids in eth cleaning room all stopped when the sudden sounds of broken glasses and plates came to their ears. Carlotta held a worried and suggested, "I'll just check what's all the wracked is all about?"

Rushing out the cleaning room and up the stairs, Carlotta stopped at the floor where the clashing sounds were coming from. Carlotta reached up just outside the kitchen doors, she quickly opened them wide and the next thing her jaw dropped down form the sighting of the kitchen completely wrecked. Most of the tables were flipped to the sides, huge shelves fallen down to the floor, everything was stained with food and sauces even on the lower parts of the walls.

Until Louie revealed himself on his knees with his clothing ripped and stained with food and sauces like he was in a brutal fight. Unaware of Carlotta was behind at the door, Louie screamed with a fiery temper in the tone of his voice, "Come out, you little pipsqueak! And fight like a man!"

Louie started swinging tables to the side so he looked underneath them, "Louie!" Carlotta yelled to get Louise' head out from looking underneath and get his attention. Clueless was written all over Carlotta's face, she asked, "What is… What are you doing?"

"The crab… it was there… then there… I was just…" Louie lost the words to answer but he tried to do, it made him realised that he looked completely mad to Carlotta. He grew a forgivable grin with broken teeth, "I'm sorry, madman."

Meanwhile, after having a short relax in the bath, the maids give Ariel a light pink night dress then guided her to her new bedroom where she would be sleeping in. Ariel smiled as it quit familiar to her and her sisters' bedroom, but she has her own bed, her own mirror desk. Her smile grew wider for there was a small boundary outside her long, door windows with a great view of the blue sea and the yellow beach. She opened one of the door windows and released the salty air flashing into her face, Ariel could smell the sweet, refreshing waters of the sea and the soft waves clashing down upon the yellow sand. Soon, the sea reminded Ariel of the deal she made with Ursula about returning to the sea and belonging to the sea witch. Ariel turned around and explored inside the wardrobe and discovered lots of colourful day and night dresses, what caught Ariel's eyes was her favourite blue dress hanging down by the side. Decided to wear her blue dress for today and tied her hair up in a ponytail where she attached a big, blue bow above her ponytail.

All ready and sorted, Ariel walked out of her bedroom and headed down to either the dining room or by the front of the palace gates, so she could meet up with Eric and spend their day in the village again like the old times. She the feeling she has for Eric is something more that Ariel has never expected before, but now she has a bit more time to explain it to him. Well, if she can without using her voice. After dashing down the stair case, Ariel spotted a shadow from around the corner, thinking it could be Eric waiting which grew a smile on Ariel's smile. She reached down and meet the owner of her shadow.

"Oh, hello dear" Renata appeared in front of Ariel unexpectedly, wearing her usual red and black dress and her loose, long, blonde hair. Renata's delightful eyes and an eerily smile on her face which gave Ariel a small cold chill down her spin and her eyes widen a bit. Renata added, "Back from your run-away business."

Ariel narrowed her eyes from Renata's comment on Ariel leaving the party without warning, though Ariel tried to hide her regrets in the eyes, but Renata could easily see it. Renata's grin grew a bit wider as she started slowly circling around Ariel, "Everyone were surprised to hear such a pretty girl…" Renata flicked the end of Ariel's ponytail by her hand, Renata continued, "…leaving a prince-boy."

"Okay, that's creepy…" Ariel thought to herself. She didn't like the way Renata talks to her or about everyone, it sounded very familiar for some reason. Ariel stepped forward away from Renata while staring at the unusual woman with confused eyes a pinch of confidence within them. Renata only responded with her eerily smile, Ariel took a step back and wanted to continued walking, until she bumped into Eric as he actually bumped into her.

"Ariel…" Eric said as he noticed the anxious look on Ariel's face, "You're alright?"

"I'm not sure to be honest" Ariel answered in her mind.

"Yes, well…" Renata joined in the conversation with a worried tone, "I tried to talk to her, but she didn't reply."

"Oh, Ariel lost her voice" Eric answered for Ariel as he laid her hand on her shoulder.

However, Ariel narrowed her eyes again staring at Renata angrily, "That wasn't what you sounded like before" Ariel commented in her mind to Renata.

"Oh, you poor, sweet, sea angel" Renata linked her hand together and her voice was as gentle and innocent as the smooth sea. However, Ariel still narrowed her angry eyes wondering suspiciously for Renata's sudden mood swings.

"So…" Eric tried to start to a new conversation after the wield silence, he asked Renata "Do you need anything else before you leave?"

"Oh no, I have everything" Renata answered. She walked over and kept her eyes on Ariel, "How long will your guest stay here, your majesty?"

"She said – well, nodded that she could stay along as she wants to" Eric answer, Ariel smiled at how Eric is very respectful.

"Well…" Renata walked passed Ariel shifted her eyes at Eric, Ariel didn't like her sly eyes gazing at Eric "You keep care of your princess"

Renata rubbed the side of Eric's head allowing her short, black hair to slipped down in between her fingers. Eric narrowed his eyes and replied quickly, "Thanks Renata. Have a safe trip."

Renata walks off not before she gave a quick look back at Ariel, leaving Ariel looking more anxious mixed with suspicious. Renata walked around the corner and there was one of the mains carrying a big basket of neat, clean clothing, Renata stopped the main by holding the maids' arm back. Renata whispered, "No need to feel the guest's room that much."

"Why madam?" the maid kindly asked.

"She'll won't be here for long" Renata answered with a creepy grin and left off walking through the hallway, leaving the maid looking confused.

When Renata left the hallway, Eric turn to face Ariel and said, "You know, sometimes Renata can treat me like… a child in a way."

Ariel nodded not only in agreement, but Ariel understand how it feels like when someone treats a bit childishly. Eric asked, "How much were you treated like that?"

Ariel nodded slowly while stretching her arms out wide explaining that's the amount of times she was treated like a child. Eric huffed out laughing shortly in response from that amount, and so did Ariel silently. "Would you like to come out? Just to see my friends from eth bench again? We could stay, but I think the chef is out-with-it again."

Ariel nodded fast with a happy smile and so did Eric, "Great." Eric reached his hand out and Ariel placed her hands into his, they slowly walked through the hall way. Unaware, by the side of a big flower pot where little, red Sebastian was hiding in fear from that crazy human who was killing to kill him. Sebastian spotted Ariel and Eric walking down the hallway, he took of the chance of dashing just after they walked passed him and gripped his claws tightly on the hen of Ariel's blue dress. Ariel felt something dangling at the bottom of her dress, turned her head to her right side and spotted Sebastian climbing up at the back of the blue skirt. Ariel quickly reached her hand behind herself for Sebastian to land on then quietly laid Sebastian on the side of her shoulder close by her neck, so Eric doesn't see him. Ariel could hear Sebastian heavily breathing close by her ear, but Ariel was more focus more being with Eric.

To be honest, I love the scene of song, "Le Poisson" whenever Sebastian tries to get away from Chef Louie and Louie starts acting crazy. I just laugh over and over again!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, see you soon…