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Florence always told me I was impulsive. I've read the stories and the movies these humans have been making about me, but they don't ever mention the impact Florence had on my quest to shore. They never mentioned all the times he told me not to go.

When I came to shore, even though there was an incredible amount of secrets I haven't yet discovered, the one thing I figured out immediately was how much humans glorify themselves. In all the stories they made about me they make my Daddy not realise what's "best" for me until the end. They make Sebastian unable to understand the heart of a teenage girl, who's incredibly head over heels with this human prince. A human so breathtaking, that now boring traditional merman could amount to him. Someone new and different. And I hate the way they depict me, but the worst part is that's exactly how it felt.

It wasn't all a lie. I was in love. I did want to go to land. And Florence told me how impulsive I was to choose a human over him, and maybe he was right. I broke his heart, and now? Now I suffer.

Before Eric there were plenty of boys in my life. Plenty of love triangles with the king's youngest daughter, a competition for the boys to win. They all hurt me so bad, they way they clung to my power, my youth, my title, my looks.

Only two boys didn't make me feel that way. One that hurt me the most, and one that I hurt incredibly.

Theodore. All the mermen tried to pursue me. They all came to me with descriptions of themselves or ways to sabotage the other mermen, but there was only one merman I pursued back and that was Theodore.

I was sixteen when I wanted Eric so badly, but I was also sixteen when Theodore died.

When you're a teenager you think all these terrible thoughts. You think that no one is special, you think that everyone is the same, you think that no one could ever love you because it's all fake. I thought that no one could ever love me because all the boys wanted to pretend they loved me so everyone would love them for being with me. Though humans had never sparked my mind.

I had never even thought of humans until Theodore.

He was a scruffy merman. All the boys that Daddy introduced to me were clean, well kept. Their hair was slick back, their chest puffed. They either had blonde hair and light eyes or dark hair and dark eyes. So I guess you can say Theodore was special in the way he looked too, with his black hair and blue eyes. His hair was in curls, all over the place. I would run my hands through it, and wonder why everyone would fantasize over my hair when Theodore's hair was so beautiful.

But I didn't fall in love with the way he looked. When you fall in love with someone it's about who they are first, and no matter what they look like to anyone, you just see how beautiful they are after. And then they get more and more beautiful everyday. You notice every little thing you hadn't before and you wonder if you'll see anyone the same way.

But before I could see the way the water bubbles made Theodore's crystal blue eyes glisten, he was just some guy's kid who worked in the palance. Just another boy I didn't trust.

All the boys and girls were a part of some big group. They called me a floater because I went to any group, until later on it was an insult for going to shore. "Under that pretty red hair is a sick girl. That floater. I can't believe you liked her!"

He was a floater too, for both reasons. His father worked for my father. Lieutenant Tixton was his father's name. He was in charge of the secret merarmy, making sure humans never found us. They made these technologies that would disguise us and create storms to keep boats away, masking the powers of my father. Theodore was always fascinated with them, though they were very dangerous and only our fathers had access to them.

Lieutenant Tixton was like an uncle to me. He told me he liked me better than all my sisters because I have more potential. All of us were singers or dancers, like any other upper class mermaid. Lieutenant Tixton said I had more potential than that. Tixton and my father were best friends. Tixton said that my father was devastated he didn't have any sons, and because mermaids never inherited the throne he would give it to Tixton's only child, Theodore. But Tixton kept his son away from people, he told me that he wanted to convince my father to give me the throne becauseI had the potential to rule.

All the Mermaids and Mermen had stories about Theodore. That he would come to work with his father and try to work with them, that he would run off and go to shore and take human's things. That he was an insane floater.

But Tixton never gave his son a chance to prove them all wrong.

I didn't meet him until I was thirteen, but even when I knew him no one else did. For some reason Tixton didn't want Theodore to have any power. He seemed afraid of him for some reason. Theodore's mom was never in the picture and maybe Tixton was just scared of raising a child by himself.

Daddy had a soft spot for Theodore's loneliness. He covered up his empathy by forcing Tixton to let Theodore hang out with me and my sister by saying "Your boy is jeopardizing the reputation of my kingdom because you didn't let him have friends!"

My sister's immediately dissed him, but he didn't care because he just wandered around the castle alone. Me and Flounder spied on him just to make sure he wouldn't steal anything. But all he did was look at all the pictures and fiddle with all the funky decor.

Then, when he thought no one was looking, he sneaked out the back door. I don't know why I wanted to follow him so bad. Maybe it was just sheer curiosity, maybe it was boredom for sitting in a castle all day, or maybe it was me craving attention from the only boy who didn't throw himself all over me.

Either way I fell in love, and It wasn't just a game to me.

I swam out the door, and he was fast too. Flounder tried to convince me the whole way not to chase a crazy boy. He huffed and puffed from behind me but I had to find out where he was going.

He went so far, but eventually we found him swimming through an abandoned boat. I always heard stories in class of what they looked like, but I've never seen one up close. Florence was shaking, and I had to constantly shush him to make sure Theodore didn't hear. We lost him in the ship, and as we were peering around the corner we heard a voice from behind us, "So, you followed me."

Florence and I screamed, flounder jumped into my arms, and Theodore just rolled over laughing. We were the closest we've ever been to him, and he held a brown satchel with glowing objects sticking out.

At first, I played like this wasn't the most exciting thing in my life. I felt like Sebastian. "Why did you come here! We're gonna get in trouble!" Florence didn't say anything but it was as though he whispered these lines in my ears.

He played off everything as a flirtatious joke. And it was the first time I secretly liked it. "You came too. Just can't get enough of me I guess?" Then he swam in circles laughing.

But he didn't say it all cocky like, like every egotistical merman I've ever seen. And I wondered how everyone could think someone with a laugh like that could be the evil spawn everyone described him as.

I kept a serious face on. He stopped laughing but he kept on a bright smile. "I'm just kidding."

I was sad that he found it so exciting that someone was talking to him. I expected him to attempt to pursue me further, but he just spat, "Catch me if you can!" He swam off, I immediately went after him but while Florence hesitated with confusion.

I almost caught him a couple times, but he was an exceptional swimmer, the best I've ever seen. He used the current to his advantage, and I realised a few times he slowed down to let me catch up. I found myself all giggly and laughing, and I hated myself for giving into a boy. Then he disappeared, and I looked all over the rocks I ended up at to find him.

Florence eventually found me. I could tell he was really upset, but he kept it all inside to keep me happy. He'd always do that, and I'd know because we grew up together. But that's another story.

Suddenly, while Florence and I were stuck in the middle of nowhere, a shark came out of nowhere. I grabbed Florence's hand and we were off. I thought we wouldn't make it because Florence was such a bad swimmer, the worst in all the kingdom. But I wasn't going to just leave him there for the shark

We were swimming through clear water, away from this beast until Florence pointed out the caves. We finally made it down but it didn't seem like there was any clear entrance. We thought we were at a dead end against the rocks, Florence screamed "we're gonna die!"

And then, suddenly the rock behind our backs disappeared and we fell into this there was Theodore, shutting the cave to the open mouthed shark.

Florence was furious. He took everything he had against me for following a boy and swimming away from him out on Theodore. "You could've got us killed!" I stuck beside Florence, but I didn't say anything because I was grateful Theodore saved us.

He still took it as a joke. "Don't worry I wouldn't have let you die. But wasn't it exciting?" He did another twirl, I shyly smiled and Florence murmured under his breath. "I have something to show my new friends."

He grabbed my hand while Florence grudgidly followed into this beautiful cave with a light shining down from the top. The walls were covered with these peculiar things. Things that didn't belong under water. Theodore poured out his satchel to show more of these items. Then he looked into my eyes and said, "You can put them anywhere you want." He handed me some sort of thin metal chain with a little gem on it. "That's for you. Anywhere you want."

Then he looked guiltily at Florence and handed him an object less satisfying to the eyes, "And you too, Florence."

Florence was also an outcast and seemed happy someone called him by his name.

Theodore seemed quiet to everyone else but one he became our friends, he was like an open book. He told us everything he's discovered, all of his lonely stories of exploration, and I used to like him, but then once he shared his stories, I only envied him. His life seemed so spectacular, but I could tell by the way he quickly let us in that he was lonely.

He was so interesting, and loving, and funny, qualities that all the other boys lacked. I had Florence, and though our age difference wasn't extreme, he always just felt like a little brother to me. Theodore cared extremely for Florence and I, though I was the glue because Florence always secretly had something against him. That day he made us promise to never share his secret cave with anyone, because now it was all of ours, and if his father Tixton knew about it he'd destroy it.

Though years later it was mine who destroyed it.

When Theodore and I were fourteen we became more than just friends. Daddy and Tixton never knew, but Florence did. When he found out he didn't hang out with us for three weeks. He said he was sick, and I'd bring him soup, and knock on his door, and try to visit everyday, but he said he wanted to be alone. I never realised it was because Theodore and I were together until years later, but Theodore must've known because in those three weeks hh found about a hundred new human things for Florence. He was the most kind, empathetic guy I knew.

He loved me so much and he would spin around in circles just telling me. He didn't tell me until we were fifteen, and once he did he couldn't stop. He had the warmest heart, tied with Florence, and gave the warmest hugs, and had the brightest smile and the warmest laugh.

But he did have flaws too. He was obsessed with risk taking, adventure, and exploration, and humans. All that time his dad kept him inside when he was younger, only built up his urge to get out. He would put us in dangerous situations all the time, and I loved it too. He was so fast, and strong, and saved me more times than I can even remember. But as I got older I secretly got more and more apprehensive about risk taking. I was scared that one day he wouldn't make it out alive. It tore me apart because I didn't want to control him and take away his passion, but I also didn't want to let him go out there and kill himself.

I asked him one day if he'd choose me or adventure. He gave me the brightest smile and said, "Are you crazy Ariel? Of course I'd choose you." And then he hugged me and kissed my forehead and said, "But I never have to choose because life with you is an adventure."

Florence always was jealous that Theodore's words made him sound so wise and romantic. He had a way with words that aged his love for me, beyond some teenage fling. Florence's voice and words always gave him away to be the youngest and he hated it.

Then one day, when Theodore and I were 16, we went to that old ship to make out. Well, the plan wasn't to make out, but moreover that's what happened. No sharks ever went there so we thought we were safe. Theodore must've had an incredible pain tolerance, because he didn't notice the long scratch on his fins that was releasing blood by the second.

He pressed me up against the wheel of the ship, hands cupping my face as my arms trailed down his back. He kissed my neck and my ears whispering how much he loved me. "I'm so in love with Ariel." Another kiss. "I would kiss you forever if I could."

I kissed back harder and ran my hands through his black, scruffy hair. I kissed him all over before I would say it back. I went slowly from his forehead, to his nose, to his lips, to his chin, to his neck, to his chest, to his stomach, to the cut I now found on his fin and then when I got down to the bottom of his fins I heard a loud scream and crash. I looked up hoping to see his face reassure me nothing happened but there was no top half of his body.

I screamed so loud that the whole image of it haunts me every night. Before I could process only holding one half of the body, I looked to see the shark that must've tore him in half coming straight at me. There was so much blood, and when I swam through it the shark must've lost me. I swam so fast. Faster than I ever had in my whole life. I went right for the cave, hoping with all my being that I was dreaming and that Theodore was swimming right beside me.

I went to our cave hoping that he would be in there. I swam back to the ship immediately, regretting leaving, hoping that he'd be there in one piece. But I couldn't get close enough for validation, because in the swarm of blood there was a cluster of sharks.

I swam away in disbelief. I didn't even get to say I love you back. I didn't get to say goodbye. I didn't get to save him like he'd always do for me.

I told Florence first. He cried and I sobbed and he held me.

But when I told Tixton, he didn't cry, He almost seemed relieved, as if it was a burden on his chest. Daddy said, "What a shame." But he didn't cry for him either.

Noone cried for him except Florence and I, and no one cared about him because he was "Just some floater." Tixton didn't even tell anyone about his death and no one asked anyway.

Everyone acted like it didn't happen and I couldn't stand it. Time is the worst thing in the world when someone you love died. When he died time never stopped to allow me to breathe.

Noone knew I loved Theodore except Florence, and no one knew he died, so I was still expected to sing in concerts and flirt back with Daddy's friend's sons. But I didn't go and I never let boys even say one word to me. Florence and I spent a lot of time in the cave and at the surface like we would with Theodore. There was a seagull there who said he knew him and he quickly joined our group, but he was never a replacement.

I found a rock, and spent two straight days carving it just like Theodore taught me. I carved it to look like him, but I could never get his hair right, and it looked much straighter than it actually was.

But one day I was in the cave alone, holding onto my sculpture of Theodore, when two sea urchins came in. They hissed in my ears that a sea witch could help me get Theodore back. When they told me that I didn't even question following them, no matter how evil the sea witch Ursela was said to be. I didn't trust anyone's judgement anyway. They called Theodore evil but he was nowhere near it.

Florence started to protect me like never before after Theodore's death, and I didn't realise he was following us until we got there.

I'm not stupid, I got all the bad vibes Ursela had instantly. But my instincts were covered up with love for theodore. I wanted him back so desperately. So when Ursula said she could bring Theodore back, I immediately begged her too.

I was on my fins begging, as she stood over me with a sly smile and laughed maniacally. The sea urchins looked at each other as if death was some big joke, and if I could've I would've tied them together and whipped Ursula's grin off her face. But I needed her help.

She laughed as she pointed out Florence hiding over her garden of souls. "Him." She said.

He stepped forward and I jumped up in confusion. "What do you mean him?"

"Well, this isn't some kind of easy spell. There's a price to be paid," She whispered threateningly in my ear.

"Wha- what kind of price?" Florence shook, cowering behind me.

"Well. If you want me to bring back your friend I'll need your little merman friend to give up his body to become a fish." She laughed with her little urchins.

Then the souls in her garden hissed, "A fish" "A fish" "A fish".

I felt horrible for wanting Florence to take the offer more than anything.

At first he said in fear, "No no no no no no."

I looked down to the ground, keeping myself from begging Florence to give up being a merman.

Ursula and the urchins laughed as tears fell from my eyes. Florence must've seen my tears because he said, "Wait…" and then he looked me in the eyes seeking approval. "Okay.."

"No Florence," I said, grabbing his arms as he stepped forward. Even though I wanted him so badly.

"I'm doing it Ariel." He said, not letting anything change his mind. And that was when I realised how much Florence loved me. Ursula held out a contract and Florence quickly signed after I said, "You don't have to do this Florence."

Then the sea urchins pulled my rock sculpture of Theodore inside. Before she started the spell she quickly mentioned, "Now it may not work that this rock turns into Theodore, but magic works in funny ways."

Before we could react, the sea urchins pulled his arms forward as Ursela plucked a hair from his head. He said ouch and flinched, but when he started rising and glowing he was screaming as Ursela sang "AH HA HA."

I was screaming, "Stop! Don't hurt him!"

And then there was a giant cloud of smoke , and when it went away it revealed a plump fish in the middle. When I look back I feel bad for immediately looking at the rock sculpture to see if it was Theodore.

And yet. It was still a rock. But Florence wasn't there anymore, just a fish. I slowly go closer to what may be Florence. Then the fish slowly opens his eyes and jolts back when he sees me. "A-Ariel… Wha-what am I?" He swims around in confusion.

"Yo- you're a flounder."

He screams in disbelief and I cry. And we both look at the rock to see that it hasn't changed. Then we're suddenly in our cave with the rock, and Ursela and the sea urchins aren;t there. I grab onto the rock and hold it, crying. The flounder- Florence starts to swim in circles screaming.

Then we hear Ursela's voice echoing all around the cave, "Sorry kiddies. It hasn't worked YET," She screams the last world, belching out a maniacal laugh. Then she sings "Poor unfortunate souls!" And her voice bouncing around the cave until it's quiet, and I'm screaming "You sea witch!" and Florence is sobbing.

The sea witch tricked us, and Theodore never came back from that rock. But what was worse, that all for me, Florence gave up being a Merman. Everyone knew what we did, and there was no hiding it because Florence was a flounder, and everyone called him "Flounder", and me "Floater". "Flounder and floater going up the sea, k-i-s-s-i-n-g." No boys ever flirted with me again because we were outcasts dumb enough to mess with a sea witch.

But Florence and I still went to that cave, still went to the abandoned boats, and we still went to the surface. We hoped that it was all for nothing and Theodore came back, but we also had to get away from the ridicule.

But then one day we were at the surface. We saw a ship. Immediately Florence said we should swim away, but something was drawing me to the boat. I went closer, probably closer than any other mermaid or merman before. And there he was. Theodore. On the ship with.. Legs! I just held myself there, watching him walk and casually talk to all the humans. But they called him Prince Eric?

But it couldn't be, it was Theo. He had the same crystal blue eyes, pale skin, facial structure and strong upper body. His hair was black, though straight like the sculpture rather than curly. When this Prince Eric talked and laughed it gave me chills, because it was the same warm laugh and smile Theodore had.

How could it be possible?

Florence pulled me down from the boat into the water, shouting at me for going near humans. But when I told him Theodore was up there he was speechless. He got a closer look and couldn't believe his eyes.

There was Theodore. Ursela's spell had worked! Theodore probably had amnesia from the incident, probably ended up on sure with legs and a fake reputation, because magic works in funny ways.

But I will get Theodore back. Prince Eric. I just have to get on land.