An enormous silvery moon lit up the midnight-blue heavens above the kingdom of Tirulia. In a small cove adjacent to the seaside palace stood three young sisters. The eldest had long dark hair in a ponytail and wore pink. The middle sister possessed cascading red locks with a brilliant sky-blue bow that matched her vivid sky-blue apparel. The youngest was also a redhead, yet unlike her sisters? Her hair was short and curly. Also, unlike her sister's cerulean eyes, her eyes were sparkling emerald.
Their names were Princess Melody, Princess Harmony, and Princess Aria, ages 12, 10, 8. The sisters remained the exclusive children of both sea and shore, given their mother, Ariel, was a mermaid while their father, Eric, was human. The sisters had been born with the innate capability to transform into humans or mermaids. On land, they became human once they touched the ocean, they'd become mermaids.
Tonight their parents were at the lagoon, revealing a relaxing evening alone. Following half a decade of hell, since Ursula had succeeded in her sham marriage scheme? Which left their mother a voiceless monarch for half a decade, followed up by a god-awful nightmare to rescue their grandfather, then ultimately defeating Ursula once and for all!
Yeah, that hadn't been a picnic for either of their parents. Once their grandfather been restored? For the last thirteen years, their parents had become ambassadors to other kingdoms—half the time under the sea and the other half on land. Either way, they'd made it work. The result was three gorgeous daughters.
Currently, Melody was engaged in practicing ballet underneath the moonlight while her younger sisters watched. Melody possessed an intuitive gift for ballet. Thus it came incredibly easy to her. Finishing her routine, she turned to her siblings. "Well, how did I do?" she inquired hopefully to her sisters. Each sister glanced at each other, unsure what to say.
Harmony looked a bit anxious by her sister's question as she suffered from anxiety. Moreover, she quickly got frustrated, thus preventing her from achieving her own goals. "I think it was well done, Melody. No way I could've done such a performance. I'm such a klutz!" Harmony replied while twisting her hands.
"I found it well done," Aria pipped up, "However, I wish people stopped treating dancing as a girly activity. Dancing is something for everyone to relish, not just a girly thing."
Blushing, "Pray I don't get stage fright when its time for the performance. You're thoroughly aware the whole family coming for the festival," referring to the upcoming celebration to commemorate Ursula's demise.
"I know! How can you not get anxious when both sides are coming?" Harmony exclaimed, thinking of their extended relatives. Their mother's family included their grandfather, six aunts, and one uncle. Uncle Urchin had been adopted when their mother was a teenager and was a cool uncle.
However, their father's family? His parents, his elder siblings? Unquestionably nerve-wracking without a doubt. Their parental cousins were the cousins from hell. Nevertheless, King Thomas and Queen Donna remained blithely married and devoted to their family. However, the rest of their family? They're an entirely different story!
Their eldest, Princess Barbara, was beyond narcissistic plus high maintenance! Her daughters? Princess Rachel and Princess Paige were spoiled rotten, forever behaving like toddlers. Uncle Joseph? A womanizing, disrespectful, ignorant male whose male offspring Jimmy remained as offensive if not more obnoxious! Needless to say? The sisters never enjoyed it when they'd to deal with their cousins. They would willingly go into the deep depths of the ocean then spend time with them!
"I honestly wish Father's household wasn't coming. I don't wish to have Jimmy pranking us repeatedly. Even Grandfather Triton doesn't scare him!" Aria noted bitterly.
"I despise Paige the most. She constantly gets away with theft! No matter how many times we've caught her? Aunt Barbara never disciplines her. Rather she encourages this behavior!" spat Harmony resentfully.
"I've constantly felt Rachel was the worst out of the three. She's the biggest spoiled brat out of all three of them. Plus, a pathological liar who has no remorse for whoever she hurts!" Melody argued, to which her sisters then nodded.
"Let's hope this time for minimal collateral damage," Harmony added, to which the sisters agreed. Then they hastened back to their bedrooms before Carlotta figured they snuck out.
A week later, their maternal relatives arrived first. Thanks to the trident, each member of their mother's family could become human temporarily. Their aunts dressed in extravagant gowns that matched their tail colors. Same with their uncle and their grandfather. Uncle Urchin still had a boyish charm to him. He acted more like a big brother to his nieces than their uncle. He came bearing gifts for all three of his nieces.
He gave Aria an 18-carat charm bracelet, Harmony art supplies, and finally, dancing shoes for Melody. They didn't question how he got these underwater. Instead, they thanked him. Finally, his nieces dragged him to their secret spot for some alone time. "So, Uncle Urchin? Ready to see me dance? Your dance shoes fit perfectly! Plus, they're super comfy!"
"Sure, Melody. I'd love to see you dance, so please, show me."
Giggling, Melody went through her warm-up, then gradually danced skillfully as a prima ballerina. Her uncle remained captivated regarding his young niece's ability. She was doing a jete when cruel laughter was heard, then a nasty voice called out, "You call that dancing you bloated manatee? You're such a freak!"
The insult threw off Melody's concentration. She fumbled the landing then blundered into the ocean, thus converting her legs into a tail that flopped helplessly. Urchin promptly turned to face the speaker. He observed a thirteen-year-old girl with thick curly ebony locks and gigantic cat green eyes. The haughty adolescent was garbed in an extravagant gown in various shades of blue.
Princess Rachel resumed ridiculing her cousin. Her sharp words cut deeper then you could drive a harpoon. "Honestly, Mel-Mel, you should give up dancing! Since all you ever do is flounder!" laughing even more cruelly.
Urchin helped his niece out of the water. Once he knew she was alright, he walked deliberately to Princess Rachel. "Excuse me? Do you have a rational motive compelling you to bully my niece?"
"Hey, fish-boy! Get a clue! No one wants your kind here. You're all unnatural mutants! Consequently, you must be brain-dead if you think you've got the right talk to me!"
"Where I'm standing? All I see is a young lady who is unquestionably friendless and jealous," he started to say when she laughed again. "Me? Jealous of those freaks? Come on! How much seaweed do you have for brains?"
Urchin didn't back down. Instead, he ignored the interruption, "You're spewing lies moreover cruel words due to your insecurities. Consequently? You've wronged others because you don't know else to feel good.
Same with abusing your status as a princess, thereby exploiting it as an excuse to be vulgar. Well, one day, you'll get what is coming to you. But, for now, I'd advise you to think about your actions before its too late." Then he collected his nieces before leaving with them. Princess Rachel looked outraged that anyone dared stand up to her, let alone play psychoanalyst!
She wasn't miserable, lonesome, or jealous! What did she have to be green-eyed of? She was a princess with all the wealth in the world! Anything she ever desired she'd got the second she asked for it! Following this incident, Rachel went to her mother, lying that she'd been victimized. Her mother, of course, believed her, which led to heated words, including several threats from Barbara to her mutant in-laws.
The argument got so heated that all three grandparents had to intervene. Triton didn't use his trident, but he did give Princess Barbara a serious scowl, which was only rivaled by King Thomas's. King Thomas spent approximately an hour giving his eldest daughter and granddaughter a dressing down. Then, speaking as calmly as possible, informing them how disgusted he was by their actions.
Neither seemed phased or even cared. Instead, they brazenly talked back before leaving the room. Ariel's entire family remained appalled by the sheer disrespect. Even, Ariel who'd caused so many problems? She knew Barbara and Rachel unequivocally crossed a line. Eric looked incredibly embarrassed by his family. No wonder he didn't mention them if he could avoid it. Everyone just sucked it up and grinned.
Ultimately arriving at the kingdom's amphitheater, everyone took their seats. Various performances shared the spotlight until it came time for the ballet portion. Ariel and Eric watched proudly as their eldest began to dance. Melody was elegant, beautiful, full of confidence. Everything was going perfectly until Rachel sabotaged Melody.
Rachel intentionally pulled the lever opening the trapdoor, which caused Melody to fall in, followed by an earsplitting crunching sound. Anyone who'd any decency immediately rushed to see if Melody was alright.
Eric quickly rushed his eldest daughter to the imperial physician for treatment. Rachel couldn't stop laughing, as if it had just been a joke! Instead of the reality, she could've murdered her cousin!
Thomas and Donna were beyond disgusted by the behavior. The ordinarily level-headed monarchs were so consumed by rage, it took a lifetime of etiquette not to wring Rachel's neck. Instead, they went inside to check on Melody. Unfortunately, Melody ended up breaking her left tibia. She'd be in both a cast, moreover, a wheelchair for weeks as transforming would only exasperate the injury.
This action proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back. The grandparents and Melody's parents had an extremely long discussion behind closed doors. Finally, Eric's parents summoned their eldest and her daughters to the throne room. The family of three was then informed that they were disinherited, stripped of their royal titles, and, lastly, banished from Tirulia!
Of course, they screamed this was an outrage that they'd no right to strip from them their birthright! However, King Thomas and Queen Donna were firm in their decision. They'd grant them a week to collect the essentials before they boarded a vessel to where they'd be exiled. They also firmly warned their elder son and grandson if they dared step a toe out of line, they'd meet the same fate.
You could see it in their eyes. The three ladies vowed they'd get their revenge. But, that was a concern for another day. Right now? Making sure Melody healed properly was all that mattered.
Harmony: Kiernan Shipka- Jinora LOK
Aria: Cora Baker: Young Korra
Trust Yourself
Listen to the advice of others, but also trust yourself. Your intuition is your inner compass. It will point you in the right direction.
Surrender to what your heart knows. Even if others disagree, your instincts are usually accurate when nurturing them.