Chapter 4: Parents

Everything was in place, and everything was perfect. Almost perfect at least, because the Queen knew something was missing.

It was almost time for everything to begin, and Queen Ariel needed a second to clear her head. Her heartache brought her to the royal garden, where the salty air comforted her homesickness. The quiet stroll led her to the small bit of water in the garden, and when she looked up to the sky she saw seagulls circling and calling.

The queen breathed a deep sigh of longing,

"I miss you, daddy, I wish you could be with us… I wish Melody knew her aunts and..." she couldn't say it out loud, the pain of it too much to admit. She wished her mother had gotten the chance to be a grandmother.

Her thoughts were broken by the touch of water washing over her foot. The tide had responded to the Queen's heartache, rising to comfort her pain.

The queen carefully looked around to make sure she was alone before carefully taking off her shoes, and dipping her feet into the sea. The ocean felt like sunshine on her skin, warm and refreshing. For a moment, she was back in her childhood, in the coves, summertime, with her family…

"Mother? What are you doing?" Ariel snapped back to attention at the sound of her daughter's voice, drifting down from her bedroom balcony.

With a flush of embarrassment, she replied, "Um, nothing! I'll be right up!"

Melody wasn't sure what her mother had been doing, but not understanding her mother's actions was a fairly common occurrence. Without dwelling on it further she returned to her room and went to her father's side.

"I can't believe it, you're all grown up now my princess."

Worry contorted her face, "Oh daddy I don't know if I can do this."

Melody could talk to fish, and seagulls… but not to her mother. Their relationship was strained by high expectations, harsh rules, and fighting. Her father was a very different story. His pride for her was unwavering, he couldn't say no to her, he always listened, and knew what to say.

"My princess, today is a happy day, the world is opening up for you." King Eric gently caressed his daughter's face, attempting to wipe the worry from her features.

The Queen entered the room before anything more could be said. She closed the bedroom door behind her, creating the rare moment where the three of them could be alone together as a family.

"Melody, you look so beautiful." The Queen took in the sight of her little girl, all grown up and ready to meet the world.

"Mother please do I have to do this? I'm not graceful like you. What if everyone thinks I'm strange?" Melody pleaded with her mother, but the Queen just gently took her daughter's hands in her own.

"Oh honey, everyone has trouble fitting in. Especially at your age, I know I did. I was… a regular fish out of water."

"What? You? No way…" Melody shook her head and sighed. There was no way that was true, every story and detail she had ever heard painted her mother as nothing less than a perfect princess and queen.

"I… I'm just so scared to make a fool of myself."

Concern filled the queens' voice, "Melody… this isn't just about the party, is it? Is there something else going on? You know you can always tell us anything."

The King joined his beloved wife in comforting their daughter. "I don't understand Melody, isn't this what you have always wanted? To get to meet the outside world?" She could feel how much they both loved her, how much they wanted her to be happy. Her face shifted from anxiety to hope.

"I… well… ok but it's kind of crazy and sort of impossible… but what I dream about more than anything in the whole world is…" the Princess's words were broken by a loud knock at the door.

"It is time for the festivities to begin! The preparations are ready!" It was the voice of Grimsby, the royal advisor.

"Oh, we can talk later Melody, let's just have a wonderful time tonight." Queen Ariel kissed her daughter's forehead, before leaving with her husband to begin the night's events.

After her parents make their royal entrance, Melody would make her debut into high society. Glide down the magnificent golden steps to a grande ballroom and let her life begin. It seemed so simple yet so nerve wracking at the same time.

Melody waited behind the curtains at the peak of the stairs, listening to the swelling orchestral music. She heard the announcer introduce her parents, and saw the curtains begin to lift.

She never forgot the sight before her, the ballroom floor flooded with people. All dressed in jewels and fine fabrics from around the world, all looking to her at the top of the stairs. No one dared speak, only the music danced in the air.

"Now presenting… the crown princess Melody!"

Melody took a deep breath and placed the best smile she could on her face. She had practiced this part a hundred times. With as much grace as possible, she picked up the sides of her massive ball gown, before beginning her walk down the steps. She paused with each delicate step, making sure to time her steps to the orchestra's musical cues.

"Ok, Mel you got this, so far so good…"

When she finally got to the bottom of the stairs the music swelled and as it finished she dropped into a deep curtsy. For a moment she had no idea what she was supposed to do next. The ballroom floor in front of her was full of young people her age, something she was not used to in the slightest. Then the crowd broke into thundering applause.

"Um hi, I mean…" A deep stuttering voice drew her attention, "Would you… like to dance?"

Hi everyone, thank you for reading my AU of The Little Mermaid 2, with Melody at 19 and not 12. I originally posted this FanFiction on Deviantart, and it is updated there every 1st and 15th of the month. I will be adding chapters to this story every Monday till it's caught up to the deviant art version.

If you would like to read ahead or check out my Disney fan edits here is my deviantart link:

mermaidmelodyedits

You can also check out my Disney fan edits on Instagram:

mermaid_melody_edits/

I'd super appreciate if you guys could leave me your thoughts in the comments! Critique, comments, discussion, etc. I want to hear it all!

Chapter 4 deals with parent relationships, Ariel's with her mom and dad, and Melody with Ariel and Eric. Queen Attina, Ariel's mom, has been dead for a long time, but it still hurts Ariel. I imagine it hurt for Melody to not have a grandma, and for Ariel to not have a mother to turn to as she becomes a mom herself. At this point in time she has a good relationship with her dad, but she can't see him often for many many reasons. Ariel also has to hide all her mermaid heritage from her daughter, so Melody never meets her grandpa which hurts everyone. plus Ariel must feel so isolated as a mermaid, and from her family. Melody on the other hand is a daddy's girl, and she can tell her mother hides things from her. So Melody also trusts her dad more, and he is a good listener. she loves her mom, but as most teen relationships they fight and it's complicated. Melody also holds resentment because Ariel is obviously hiding things, and Ariel is the one that does all the rule enforcing (no leaving the castle, attend your lessons, punishments) so of course Melody has more conflict with her.