CHAPTER 12: Pieces of a Puzzle
Even hours after meeting him, Melody was still mesmerized watching Alex swim. His tail was the same color as his eyes, a deep vibrant emerald. His torso and tail fin a faintly translucent shade of green, the light just barely dancing through with every flick.
Alex pointed to a deep chasm not too far from them, "If we follow the trench out we can take the natural tide, it'll make a week-long trip into a three-day one."
Melody followed his lead hesitantly, "It's that much faster?"
"You've never ridden an undertow before? Oh wow, you're in for a treat! Here I'll show you."
In one smooth motion, he pulled her in close, her thin back pressed closely against his chest. Crimson bloomed across her face as the feeling of his skin and the details of his powerful muscles seared themselves into her mind. He carefully clasped her wrist and extended her arm forward.
They were floating in a still ocean, but around Melody's hand, the water rushed like a powerful river. A deep gasp escaped from her pale rose lips.
"The ocean has hundreds of these currents, just like veins in your body. Lucky for us, this one goes right past Atlantica."
Swimming in the open ocean was vastly different than in an undercurrent. It was the difference between a bird flapping its wings, or gracefully gliding on a jet stream. Before Melody had to use her tail to push herself through the water, but now the ocean's current gave her all the momentum she needed. She used her thin coral fins to slice through the water and carry her forward, like the wingspan of a hawk in the wind.
Ocean currents were only the first of many wonders Alex introduced to the princess during their journey. On the first day, they discovered and played tag in a school of a thousand tropical fish. On the second day, he taught her how to swim safely through a swarm of jellyfish without getting stung. A truly terrifying experience, but she trusted his guidance and got through unscathed.
On the third and final day before arriving, they discovered a sunken ship. Alex had so many questions about the human things they found, and Melody answered as much as she could without giving herself away.
Alex eventually commented on her knowledge, "I don't wanna be nosy but… did you used to live in one of those human ship bays?"
A mermaid that grew up in a human shipping bay? The perfect cover story! Yet she hesitated, she didn't want to lie to Alex about her past. "Um well… I grew up right next to one. They are called a shipping port." She did technically grow up next to a shipping bay, she just omitted that she lived on the land side of it.
Unexpectedly a deep look of pity briefly crossed his face, "Ah, that… that explains a lot."
Melody shot him a deeply confused look, "What? What does that mean?"
"No, I didn't mean that in a bad way, I swear. I just meant it explains why you aren't familiar with the deep sea, how you know all the human stuff, why you are traveling to Atlantica but don't know the way..."
Most of what he said made sense, but why would living in a bay explain her going to Atlantica? "I never said why I was heading there."
"You're right, I shouldn't have made assumptions. I apologize, I usually know better than to be nosy. I just had a feeling you were a bay girl, and I was right! I know a few mers from the bays, so don't worry. I wouldn't dare turn you in, your secret is safe with me."
Turn her in? Secret? There was something Melody was missing, but she couldn't figure it out. "Right… thanks."
It had been 5 days since Melody went missing, and each second of it was agony for Ariel. She was exhausted, yet any attempt at sleep was fitful at best. Her waking moments were not much better, fraught with worry and endless what-ifs.
Ariel did not know how she would be coping without her family. Nearly twenty years had gone by without her joining them beneath the waves. Ariel had a few reasons for this, but bad relations were not one of them. Her six sisters had changed so much, had families of their own. Their love for her could never change, no matter how much time has passed.
Everyone in her family was either looking for Melody or staying firmly by Ariel's side. The Queen was surrounded by love and support, but no one could fill the hole inside of her.
"Is there any news yet daddy? I feel like we have looked everywhere and I-"
The familiar flick of a blue tail derailed any train of thought Ariel had.
"Flounder!"
In a second she was beside the yellow fish, pulling him into a tight hug. Instead of the joyful reunion Ariel expected, the guppy squirmed out of her arms in a panic.
The little fry darted away with a screech, "DADDY!"
Another fish appeared, older and larger than the first but otherwise identical. The guppy cowered behind his dad.
"Ugh, what is it now?" The older fish grumbled.
Ariel flushed with embarrassment, "Uh I'm sorry I thought…"
"Ariel?" Shock and recognition washed over the older fish's face.
"Flounder!"
In an instant they were in each other's arms, twirling and hugging each other tightly.
Ariel nearly cried, "I missed you so much!"
When they broke apart the mermaid pulled on his tail like she always did, "Gosh you sure aren't a little guppy anymore."
What used to be a high-pitched chuckle came out as a deep laugh, "That's one way to put it."
An energetic small school of young fish darted by them, giggling the whole way. They were knocking a rock around in a spontaneous game. At least until the rock bounced off one of their heads and they all erupted into laughter.
Three boys and two girls, all of them resembling their father in one way or another. One boy had dark blue stripes and freckles, while the other two were clones of their dad to the tee. The two girls were green and purple instead of light blue, the green one also having freckles.
"Children, what have I said about playing with the rocks on the reef?"
Still giggling they replied, "Sorry dad…"
Flounder looked at the mermaid and rolled his eyes, "Kids, you know how they are."
A bittersweet smile crossed Ariel's face, seeing Flounder with his kids only made her ache for Melody more. With one glance Flounder read his friend's face, and instantly knew what she was feeling.
He floated back by her side, "I'm so sorry about Melody."
Ariel took his fins in her hands, "Flounder, I could use your help. I know you are probably busy but-"
"Wild seahorses couldn't stop me."
Tears came to the Queen's eyes, and she pulled him in for another hug.
Unbeknownst to the both of them, Flounder's green freckled daughter was listening in very closely. Her name was Lily, and she was Melody's best friend. A million thoughts and questions raced through her head. Pieces of a puzzle falling in place when she never knew there was a puzzle, to begin with. Melody was a human Princess, but also the daughter of the lost Atlantica Princess Ariel? No wonder the strange human wasn't like the rest, why Melody could stay underwater and talk to the aquatic animals.
The poor little fish hadn't seen her friend in nearly a week, looking all over the bay every day. All Lily could remember of the half blood Princess is that she existed, no further details. She cursed herself for not paying closer attention in history class, although she failed to recall the half blood ever being a topic. Even scuttle was missing, and usually, she could ask him about what Melody was doing while she was on land.
While her family was distracted the defiant teen fish made a clean getaway, no matter what it took she was going to find her best friend.
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! Feel free to also message me if you have any questions or want to chat!
This chapter was so fun! I really enjoyed developing Alex and Melody, and cutting out all Tip and Dash. Although some of the scenes Melody has with Alex were inspired by scenes from the "Titantic Tip and Daring Dash" sequence. Such as the ship they visit. Also we have a bit more world building going in here, and I'm enjoying leaving little hints about everything that is going on. I also really want this story to not be so good vs evil like the movies, is King Triton the good guy? Is Morgana really bad? And hopefully you are left with a lot of questions and mystery, that was my goal so far anyway. like what the heck is Alex talking about? Why was Ariel so secretive? What is going on with Melody?
Id love to hear some of your thoughts, theories and explanations! It would make my day 3