Chapter 7: Mother Gothel

Elsa's POV

I stayed there crying for what felt like forever. That's when I heard a voice.

"Poor child. Poor, sweet child."

I looked to see two eels swimming. One was missing an eye. The other one had a fins on the side of his face.

"She has a very serious problem." The one with a missing eye said.

"If only there was something we could do?" the one with fins on his face said.

"But there is something." The eyeless one said.

"Who… Who are you?" I asked.

"Don't be scared." said the one with fins on his face. "I'm Sideburns. And he's Patches."

"We represent someone that can help you." Patches said.

"Someone who can make all your dreams come true." Sideburns said.

"Just imagine, you and your Prince, together forever."

"What are you talking about? Who is this?"

"Mother Gothel has great powers."

I immediately knew who that was. She was the sea witch that kidnapped my cousin Rapunzel from Atlantico. She escaped arrest when they found out. Rapunzel was safe, but now had short hair.

"The Sea Witch from Atlantico? Why, that's... I couldn't possibly. No! Get out of here. Leave me alone!" I hid my face from them.

"Suit yourself." Patches said.

"It was only a suggestion." Sideburns said.

Just then I heard a loud clang. I looked to see that some of the statue survived. Jack's face. I picked it up.

I knew the only way was through Mother Gothel. I would rather die then go home to live with my tormentor, my father. If that's what it takes, then by all means.

"Wait."

"Yes?" Both eels asked.

"Take me to Gothel."

...

General POV

Olaf and Sebastian sat outside the Grotto. Anna had gone home with Adgar to receive her punishment for supporting Elsa's obsession.

"Poor Elsa." Olaf sniffled.

"I didn't mean to tell. It was an accident. Adgar is much more intimidating then Triton." Sebastian explained.

Just then a shadow passed over them. They looked up to see Elsa swimming with two disturbing looking eels.

"Elsa? Where are you going?" Sebastian asked, a little concerned. He swam up to her face. "Elsa, what are you doing here with this riffraff?"

"I'm going to see Mother Gothel."

Sebastian gasped. This was just like when Ariel went to go see Ursula. He had to stop her.

"Elsa no! No! She's a demon! A monster! She'll kill you!" Sebastian cried out as he grabbed her fin.

"Why don't you go tell my father? You're good at that." Elsa snapped at him.

Sebastian hated hearing those words again. He knew he made the same mistake with Ariel. But he wasn't going to give up this time.

He looked at Olaf. "Come on. We have to stop her!"

Elsa followed Patches and Sideburns into the bad parts of Atlantis. Even sharks didn't dare go here.

That's when they stopped at a cave. Elsa heard moans and groans from inside.

Elsa was unsure by the looks of the cave. This was where no one comes back. She didn't want to end up like Ariel.

Patches sensed this. He looked at her. "This way to the beginning of your happily ever after."

...

Elsa's POV

I started swimming into the cave. I kept swimming even though I was terrified.

I started going down a hallway. On both sides were merpeople petrified in stone. I heard them groaning. I wondered what I got myself into.

"Come in, come in my child." I heard an woman's voice. "We mustn't lurk in doorways. It's rude."

Gothel dropped from a ledge. She had an octopus bottom. But she still looked quite young with black hair and fair skin.

"One might question your upbringing." Gothel then went to a mirror. She started admiring herself.

"Now you're her cause you are in love with this human, the Prince. Not that I blame you. He is quite the looker. Well my dear, the solution to your problem is quite simple. The only way to get what you want is to become a human yourself."

I gasped. "Can you do that?"

Gothel turned to me.

"My dear sweet child, that's what I do. That's what I live for. To help unfortunate merfolk like yourself, poor souls with no one else to turn to."

I admit that in the past I've been a nasty

They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a witch

But you'll find that nowadays

I've mended all my ways

Repented, seen the light, and made a switch

True? Yes

And I fortunately know a little magic

It's a talent that I always have possessed

And here lately, please don't laugh

I use it on behalf

Of the miserable, lonely, and depressed pathetic

Gothel went to her magic table. She summoned a skinny ugly merman and a fat mermaid.

Poor unfortunate souls

In pain, in need

This one longing to be thinner

That one wants to get the girl

And do I help them?

Yes, indeed

She snapped her fingers and the merman became handsome and strong. The mermaid was skinny and beautiful.

Those poor unfortunate souls

So sad, so true

They come flocking to my cauldron

Crying, "Spells, Gothel, please!"

And I help them!

Yes I do

Now it's happened once or twice

Someone couldn't pay the price

She opened her hand to the merpeople in her cauldron as if to get paid. They looked confused. Gothel then clenched her fist they became petrified. I looked down the hall to see the others. They didn't pay the price. And that was their punishment.

And I'm afraid I had to rake 'em 'cross the coals

Yes I've had the odd complaint

But on the whole I've been a saint

To those poor unfortunate souls

Gothel then wrapped her arm around me.

"Now here's the deal. I'll make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days. Understand? Three days."

I nodded. Gothel then grabbed my face with her tentacle. "Now listen this is important. Before the sun sets on the third day, you've got to get that prince to fall in love with you. Which means he has to kiss you. But not just any kiss. The kiss of true love."

Gothel then brought up a silhouette of me as a human.

"If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you'll remain human permanently."

But then the human silhouette went away and me as a mermaid came up.

"But if he doesn't, you turn back into a mermaid and you belong to me."

"Don't do it Elsa!" I heard Sebastian at the doorway. Patches and Sideburns tied them up, shutting him and Olaf up. I got nervous. Seeing Sebastian here meant one thing. He didn't want me to end up like Ariel.

"Have we got a deal?"

I thought about it. I still didn't feel sure about it. This could be a trick. Once I accept, I could end up like Ariel.

"I'm sorry for wasting your time but I don't believe we do." I said as I got ready to leave.

Gothel chuckled. "This is about your cousin right?"

I quickly turned around. "How did you know about that?"

"Ursula was my younger sister." Gothel said with a smile.

I nodded. "Then you know why."

Gothel laughed. "What if I told you Ariel was alive?"

Joy filled my body as I thought about the possibility. "I would say prove it."

Gothel created a bubble on her cauldron. I looked at it.

It was Ariel. But she was human. And she had a man with her.

"The man's name is Eric. They are happy living in the Kingdom of Analugha, near Atlantica. They have a daughter too, named Melody. I also believe another is on the way."

I looked at it with amazement. After years of thinking Ariel was dead, I found out she's alive and human.

"I can do the same thing for you. Now let's try this again. Have we got a deal?"

"But if I become human, I'll never be with my father or sister again."

"That's right! But you'll have your man, heh heh. Life's full of tough choices, isn't it? Heh heh. Oh, and there is one more thing. We haven't discussed the subject of payment. You can't get something for nothing."

"But I don't have…"

"I'm not asking much, just a token really, a trifle! You'll never even miss it. What I want from you is - your center."

"My center?" I asked, not knowing what it was.

"The source of your powers. So goodbye to your ice."

"But Jack knows I have powers. How am I going to explain what happened if I can't show him?"

"You'll have to figure it out. But I would avoid the subject all together. Cause if you accept the deal, you can't tell your prince that you are a mermaid or that you had ice powers to begin with."

"What? Why?"

"It's a test to see if this Prince will love you for who you are." Gothel said.

That did make sense, but I didn't want to give up my powers. It was a part of me, and Jack knew this.

"But without my center, how can I…"

You'll have your looks, your pretty face.

And don't underestimate the importance of body language, ha!

The men up there don't like a lot of blabber

They think a girl who boasts is a bore!

Yes on land it's much preferred for ladies not to say a word

And after all dear, what is idle prattle for?

Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation

True gentlemen avoid it when they can

But they dote and swoon and fawn

On a lady who's withdrawn

It's she who holds her tongue who get's a man.

Gothel started throwing in ingredients for the potion.

Come on you poor unfortunate soul

Go ahead!

Pay your price!

I'm a very busy woman and I haven't got all day

It won't cost much

Just your ice!

You poor unfortunate soul

It's sad but true

She then came up to me and made a scroll appear. I quickly skimmed it.

I hereby grant into Mother Gothel, The Witch of Atlantis…

One center…

...In exchange for her service and magic…

For all eternity, signed

A pen appeared for me to sign the scroll.

If you want to cross the bridge, my sweet

You've got the pay the toll

Take a gulp and take a breath

And go ahead and sign the scroll

Patches, Sideburns, now I've got her, boys

The boss is on a roll

This poor unfortunate soul

I quickly signed the scroll. I looked at my signature. Gothel summoned the scroll. She then smiled at me.

Beluga sevruga

Come winds of the Caspian Sea

The cauldron bubbles and lights flew all around the room.

Genommen eis seele

La voce to me.

Two giant hands came out of the cauldron.

"Now hold still my dear."

I held as still as I could. The hands came at me. I watched as they hovered over a sudden white glowing in my chest. It was my center. The hand pierced my chest. I almost scream because of how much it hurt. It took out my center and took it to Gothel, who put it in a shell that was around her neck.

She started laughing. I suddenly was in a bubble. I couldn't feel anything. I feared that Gothel had killed me. But then I could see. But I couldn't breath.

Just then Olaf and Sebastian came over to me and shot up towards the surface.

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter.

Thanks for all the Reviews. Sorry I had to delete some. Some were inappropriate. Some were repetitive. Please keep this in mind when reviewing.

The Song Used in this Chapter is Poor Unfortunate Souls by Pat Carroll.

Thanks for Reading. Please Review. Chapter 8 will be here soon.