At morning, waves rolled and crashed on a beach near a familiar castle.

Soon, a familiar red crab crawled out of the water by some rocks and soon felt the morning chill of winter.

"Brr, didn't think it be cold up here." Sebastian shivered a bit. "Should've brought claw-warmers."

Sebastian then crawls onto the beach humming a bit.

But then what sounded like pounding hooves was heard.

"What is it?" Sebastian frowned looking back.

He then saw a speeding horse with a familiar girl with black hair coming at him.

"Whoo-hoo!" She cheered.

"Ahh!" Sebastian yelped.

He then zipped over to a rock as the horse ran by and watched them go.

"Melody, slow down!" Her mother called out as another horse ran by carrying a familiar redhaired woman.

"Slow down, you 2!" A familiar man said as third horse appeared.

Sebastian watched them ran off.

"Ha, ha! Those 3 are such crackups, mon!" Sebastian laughed a bit.

On her horse, Melody raced across a bridge as Ariel and Eric were trying to keep up with her on theirs'.

They then galloped through a section of the village as a few villagers quickly got out of the way.

"Hey, watch it!" A villager boy said.

"Sorry!" Melody called out.

"Melody sure has a wild one!" Ariel said.

"No kidding." Eric said.

They soon near the castle as Melody was the first to arrive as Ariel and Eric came in behind her.

Melody laughed as she got off her horse. "I win!"

Ariel couldn't help to chuckle. "We didn't teach you how to ride a horse to race, Melody."

"Maybe we should've chosen a more relaxed one." Eric said.

Melody then giggled.

About nearly 6 months have pass since the defeat of Morgana, and things couldn't have been better for everyone. A few weeks after Morgana's defeat, Triton has given Melody a special bracelet with a whale charm as a late birthday gift, that actually allows her to be a mermaid whenever she wanted and swim in the ocean. All she had to do, is simply wish to be a mermaid or human so she can visit Atlantica and return home. Even Ariel has been reunited with her sisters who had terribly missed her for 12 years and they gave her the biggest group hug Ariel has gotten in her life from them. She even been finally introduced Melody to her 6 aunts, which took Melody by surprise of knowing her mother had 6 older sisters. And it took her a while to know who was who, and she loved them dearly, and out of all of them, Arista and Adella have became her 2 favorite aunts. Like Arista showing her an old game she used to play with Ariel when they were kids, and Melody once tickled Adella with a piece of seaweed like when Ariel once did, though Adella did get her back.

Melody eventually learnt about her late grandmother, Athena, when Triton showed a statue of the 2 of them together. Melody was sadden of learning she died when her mother was a little girl, but Triton knew she would've loved her very much. And surprisingly, Sebastian and Louis are starting to get along with each other, Sebastian finally apologized to him after the trouble he caused when they first met. And they even shook on it.

"Ah, back so soon, Your Majesty?" Grimsby said.

"You could say that, Grimsby." Eric said as Ariel got off her horse.

Then barking was heard as Max came rushing in to greet them.

"Hey, boy." Melody greeted scratching the old dog's head.

Despite being an old dog, Max still seems to be going strong and fit.

Then, Carlotta came out.

"My goodness it's quite cold outside." She said. "Why don't you all come inside now? Louis has prepared some warm tea."

"Thank you, Carlotta." Ariel said.

Inside the castle, they were all by the fireplace warming up as Louis soon served some tea and some biscuits.

"Tea and biscuits Royal Majesties and Her Highness." Louis said serving them.

"Thank you, Louis." Ariel said grabbing a plate.

After serving them, Louis heads off back to the kitchen. Close by, Sebastian peeked out from a curtain watching Louis leave. Despite the 2 having resolved differences, Sebastian felt it was best to stay out of his way.

"Wow, I really can't believe Christmas is also here." Melody said.

Eric chuckled. "Melody, it's still less than a month away."

"I know, I just can't wait though." Melody said.

Then Grimsby appeared. "Excuse me, Eric. May I speak to you for a moment?"

"Sure." Eric said. "Excuse me, ladies."

"It's fine, Eric." Ariel said.

Eric then walks off with Grimsby.

Soon, Sebastian crawled over to Ariel and Melody.

"Hello, Ariel and Melody." Sebastian greeted.

"Oh, Sebastian." Ariel said. "What are you doing here?"

"I just come to to say hello." Sebastian said as Melody allowed him to crawl onto her hand and lifts him to the couch. "And to remind you of your visit to Atlantica soon."

"Sebastian, it's still not for another couple days." Ariel said.

"Well, I know that." Sebastian said. "But if I don't start allowing you now, you're sure to forget about it, and not show up."

Ariel and Melody couldn't help but giggle from that.

"I'm pretty sure we wouldn't forget, Sebastian." Melody said.

"Well, anyway, I just know things are going to be perfect." Sebastian said.

"Sure is, with Morgana gone, I can't seem to remember a more peaceful time." Ariel said.

"Well, I better head home to Atlantica before it gets dark." Sebastian said crawls off. "See you soon."

"Bye, Sebastian." Melody said.

"Tell Daddy and my sisters we said hi." Ariel said.

"I will." Sebastian said and opens a window to get out.

Later, it was now night as Melody was in a nightgown really finishing brushing her hair.

Then there was a knock on her door. "Melody?"

"It's open." Melody said placing her brush down.

The door opened as Ariel came in checking on her.

"I just came to say night." Ariel said.

Melody then yawned. "Okay."

Ariel couldn't but chuckled a bit as Melody climbed into her bed.

"Goodnight, sweetie." Ariel said and kissed her daughter's forehead.

"Night, Mom." Melody said.

Ariel then went over to the door. "I love you." She said.

"Love you, too." Melody said.

Ariel smiled and closed the door.

Melody lightly smiled and removes her locket that Triton gave her when she was a baby. She brushed her thumb against the written name on it and smiled. She then placed it on a nightstand and grabs a stuff toy of a Blue Whale she named Blue she gotten when she was 4. Melody has yet to seen a Blue Whale, but hope's that someday she will.

She soon closed her eyes and drifts off into sleep.

The next morning, a sea of gray clouds blocked the sun as flakes of snow gently fell through the air.

And the entire kingdom is now covered in a blanket of snow that occurred last night.

In her room, Melody was still sleeping as she soon stirred and woke up as she yawned and sat up. Soon she was fully awake and she then noticed the balcony covered in snow as she gasped.

"It's snowed." Melody excitedly said and climbed out of bed. "Mom, Dad! It's snowing!" She rushed out of her room.

About a half-hour later, they were winter clothing on as they were outside.

Although, Ariel was having a little trouble trying to avoid slipping on the ice as Eric held her. Despite being a human for 14 years now, ice was one of the few things Ariel was still trying to handle.

"Mom, will you calm down?" Melody said.

"It's not funny, Melody." Ariel said as Melody laughed. "You know it's not easy standing on ice."

"It's just snow, Mom." Melody said.

"It's not easy walking through snow." Ariel said.

Then Ariel slipped and lost her footing as she fell along with Eric as Melody soon laughed, but soon she slipped and fell still laughing though.

"Are you okay?" Ariel asked still slightly laughing.

Shortly later, they soon got to a big frozen pond to do a little ice skating.

Luckily, the thickness of the ice has been tested earlier as it was safe enough to stake. It one of Melody's favorite things to do in winter, and she was quite good at it. Ariel herself took a few years, but she manages to get the hang of ice staking.

Then, Scuttle appeared as he did a little ice staking himself.

He soon stakes by a shape under the ice, and then came back realizing what it was.

It was a fish swimming underneath which got Scuttle excited about.

"Hello, breakfast." He said.

He then attempts to get it when he slammed his head against the ice nearly breaking his beak. He soon pulls it free as the fish underneath blew bubbles at him as he was taunting him.

"Oh, yeah?" Scuttle glared at the fish.

He then started jumping on the ice hard, and then suddenly a piece flipped around as Scuttle fell into the water and the fish now on top of the ice.

"Scuttle?" Melody said.

Underneath, it took Scuttle a second to realize he was in the water, and then he started hitting the ice. And then the ice piece flipped around as Scuttle fell back into the water with the fish still on the ice. Scuttle then slipped his wings through a gap, and pulls on the ice as the piece flipped around as the fish hopped on the top. Scuttle struggled and climbs up as the fish tries to make a break for it, but caught it with the tip of his beak barely holding on as the fish slipped and Scuttle snatched it. But the ice piece started tipping as Scuttle was forced to release the fish as he then hops on each side the piece flipped, and starts running till eventually it hits him tossing Scuttle in the air and the piece hits him a few times as it spun around, and then Scuttle was tossed up and fell as the ice piece caught him and spun him around as the fish was tossed into the air. And then the ice piece knocks the fish away as Scuttle reaches out as the ice piece flipped once more as he was back under.

The fish slide across the ice, and underneath Scuttle chased after it crawling on the underside of the ice.

Soon, he pokes his beak through the ice and sniffs around as the fish slid by. And then Scuttle sniffs harder as the fish was pulled over to his beak as Scuttle continued sucking as he blinked a few times. He continues sucking as he was soon getting out of breath and tossed the fish away.

Scuttle then crawls through the hole, and soon slips through as his right eye pops through. He soon pops his left eye through and then his head pops out, and he soon turns to the fish who was laying on his back and waved to him.

Scuttle turns to the ice, and then jabs his beak through the ice, and turns as he drags his beak through the ice cutting himself loose. And soon, he manages to pull himself out of the water.

The fish was still chilling as Scuttle was now struggling to stand with the ice collar stuck on his neck. And it was really heavy for him as he tries reaching for the fish. He then drops to the ice and rolls over to the fish as he rolls around it as the fish merely avoids his beak. Scuttle soon stopped rolling as he pulls towards the fish, and then Scuttle tipped over as the ice collar lands on the ice over his head.

"Ooh." Ariel, Eric and Melody cringed.

The fish hopped over to a stick resting on a piece of ice.

Scuttle struggled, but soon got to his feet as he flips over and scurries over to a ridge of snow above the fish at it blew raspberries at him.

Scuttle growled as he then tips over, and then falls landing on the other end of the stick. And the fish was catapulted into the air.

"Yahoo!" The fish cheered and falls through the hole in the ice.

"Ooh." Scuttle whined.

Melody then giggled. "Guess breakfast outsmarted out, Scuttle."

"Where exactly did you meet this bird again?" Eric asked Ariel.

"It's a long story." Ariel said.

"A little help, please?" Scuttle asked.

Later into the day, after helping Scuttle from his ice collar, the Royal family were back home warming up by the fire as Louis had served them with his famous hot chocolate.

"Yum. I love it when Louis serves his hot chocolate." Melody said and took a sip from her cup.

"You know, we should get those decorations out soon." Eric said. "Think you can help out, Melody?"

"Sure." Melody said.

After finishing their hot chocolate, Ariel, Eric and Melody were in a storage room looking for the Christmas decorations as Max was with them, and they will be getting a tree soon.

"Which chest is it in again, Eric?" Ariel asked.

"I know it's been a while, but I'm sure it was a green chest with a red lid." Eric said.

"Got it!" Melody said.

They turned to Melody by a few crates and chests with Christmas. Ariel and Eric couldn't help but chuckled as they begin to gather up the chests and crates.

After a few minutes, They soon were finishing up with the last of the chests.

"Hmm. I think there's one more somewhere." Eric said.

"I'll get it." Melody said.

Melody looked around the items for the last chest.

"Hmm. I know it's here somewhere." Melody said.

She looking looking when she accidentally stepped on a bone Max has been chewing, and then slipped and bumped against some boxes when trying to regain her footing as she fell. And one crate hits against the side of the wall.

"Melody!" Ariel said quickly coming back in the room with Eric. "Are you okay?"

They soon saw Melody groaning as she sat with an opened book on her head.

"I'm okay." Melody said and noticed the bone she tripped over. "Max." She lightly scolded.

Max lightly whimpered and licked her cheek as if he was saying sorry.

"Ohh, it's hard to stay mad at you." Melody said.

Ariel smiled and grabs the book off from Melody's head, but it wasn't until she saw the cover of it that she noticed something about it.

"Hey, Eric... isn't this...?" Ariel asked recognizing it.

Eric looked at the book and soon saw it was familiar as well. "Yeah, it actually is."

"What is it?" Melody asked joining next to her parents.

"We've actually made some of our favorite memories together in this book." Ariel said. "You were about 10 when this was last seen."

"Really?" Melody asked fascinated.

"Yeah." Ariel said and opened the book showing a page with an image of her and Eric on their wedding day. "Look, that's the day when your father and I got married."

"Hey, is that Flounder right there?" Melody asked noticing a familiar fish in the corner.

"Yeah, that was him." Ariel said.

"Wow, he looks a lot smaller than he was now." Melody said.

"Yeah, he sure was a guppy back then." Ariel said and chuckled.

A few more pages were flipped, then an image was shown of Ariel and Eric being extremely happy.

"Ariel... isn't this when?" Eric said.

"It is." Ariel smiled at the memory.

"What?" Melody said.

"This was taken the very day we learnt we were having you." Ariel said.

Melody stared at the image. "Really?"

"Mm-hmm." Eric nodded. "It was shortly after our second anniversary, I've never seen your mother that happy before."

"I'm sure I was happier when I Melody in my arms for the first time." Ariel said.

"Oh, so you're judging me?" Eric playfully nudged her.

Ariel laughed a bit. "You asked for it. I mean, I'm the one who's stuck with you for the rest of your life."

"Come here, you." Eric said grabbing Ariel as she laughed. "That was so low." She then tried to get away. "No, no, you're not getting away."

Then Ariel slipped from his grip and twisted his wrist.

"Ow, ow, you win!" Eric gave out.

Ariel laughed a bit. "This damsel's a lot tougher than you think."

Melody couldn't help but giggle and went to fix the fallen boxes, and soon noticed something.

"Uh-oh." Melody said.

"What?" Eric asked.

"There's a hole in the wall." Melody said.

The last crate was moved, and the wall now shows a hole where the crate struck it as Ariel and Eric looked at it.

"Oh, it's not too bad." Eric assured. "It'll be patched up in no time."

They then moved the boxes and other things so it would be easier when the hole will be fixed. As they were about to leave, Melody suddenly thought she noticed something behind the hole.

"Wait, I think I see something." Melody said.

"What it is?" Ariel asked.

"I'm not sure." Melody said trying to work it out.

"Here, let me see." Eric said.

Eric then knocks the section of wall as it was hollow. He pulls off another piece of the wall, and soon pulled out what looked like an old chest.

"Is that a chest?" Ariel wondered.

"Yeah, an old one as well." Eric said.

He then brushed some dust off and revealed an A on the chest, and Eric soon recognized it.

"Wait a minute, I know that initial." Eric said.

"You know?" Ariel said.

"Yeah, this was my grandfather's initial, Alexander." Eric said.

"Really?" Melody said.

"Yes, before becoming king, he was quite an explorer." Eric said. "Seen a lot of places and other things."

He then opens the chest, and reveals a dozen notebooks that haven't been touched in decades.

"That sure is a lot of notebooks." Ariel said.

"Sure is." Eric agreed.

"Um, is it all right that I look at one of them?" Melody asked.

"Hmm. Don't see why not." Eric said. "When I was little, he once told me of a saying, "Our lives are remembered by the gifts we leave our children"." He hands one of the notebooks to Melody.

"Now, then, how about we get started getting the decorations ready, hmm?" Ariel suggested. "They're not gonna hang themselves."

"Okay, Mom." Melody said.

They then left the room to get the castle ready.

Author's Note:

Next chapter, might make things really interesting. Does this sound familiar? "Well... Thief."

You may noticed an Ice Age 3 reference, as well as Ice Age 2, and a reference from Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

So, which one of her aunts do you think Melody would be closest to? My choice seems likely Arista and Adella.

Happy 21st anniversary to The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.