*I planned for him to match to Ariel in his tail/fin colors in a way. You can say that it represents the fact that Eric and Ariel are soulmates in that way, and later, much more. And something else. I hadn't forgotten about Scuttle either, so he's here, but a tad different in personality like Ariel in this story. So, enjoy! -Traveler.

(Eric's P.O.V.)

Great, got soaked again, must be the window again..wait, not soaked... I opened my eyes, widening them in shock as I realize that I was breathing underwater. For some reason, the saltwater didn't hurt my eyes now like how they did when I was human. Wait, I am not a human anymore..I am a merman! The potion!

I look down on myself, past my chest, my hips, and I was in shock and amazement as I stare at my own tail and fins. The tail's color is like a dark pea green, and my fins are sunlight seaweed green, like my mermaid's tail is. Wait, my mermaid? Great, I sound like a stalker.

I shook my head lightly as I took in my surroundings, and to my embarrassment, I admitted that I was lost as every coral, every rock, every kelp forest looks the same to me. I look up to the surface, and bit my lip nervously yet thoughtfully. I checked for any ship shadows, and to my relief, there was none, and I saw a piece of mountain jutting up through the surface.

I figured that I would use it as a over-spot to see where I am, and with great practice, I managed to swim almost well enough to break the surface near the mountain jutting, and to my surprise, it was formed into a sorts of a rocky island, with a old crow's nest crooked to the right, in my view, anyway, and as I swam closer, I saw a messy nest upon the crow's nest, and I figured the bird must be out looking for food or something.

I look around to make sure that the coast's clear, and I struggled to drag myself out into the flat part of the tiny island, and I saw that I was far off from the mainland, maybe 20 minutes by rowboat if I judged the distance right, and I hoped that the mermaid's home isn't too far from here. I admired my new tail/fins in the sunlight, and I actually like the colors, somehow matching me to the mermaid this way.

It wasn't a long time out in the sun as I had partially shade for it's coming into mid-afternoon by now, and I soon heard a squawk in the distance. I looked out to see a seagull heading here, and as it came closer, I heard a male voice from the seagull himself! I could understand him! "Hey, hey, if I wasn't a seagull, I would've mistaken ya for a human! What are you doing out here on the surface, man?".

I exhaled under my breath, and greeted him, "Hello, My name is Eric. I am afraid to say that I am lost. I have been travelling all over, and I wanted to see King Triton, but I cannot remember where he lives, for goodness sake!".

The seagull landed, laughed as he actually bent his wings unnaturally, like a human, "Well, you're in luck, my friend! Name's Scuttle, and I believe you're looking for Atlantica, is that right?". I widened my eyes in surprise as I remembered Father's stories about this legendary underwater city. I nod, "Yes, yea, that's the one! Father told me stories about Atlantica, but unfortunately, he hadn't visited, so I am trying to figure out how to get there. I don't suppose if you know how, or not?".

Scuttle laughed merrily, "Do I? Of course, I do know, thanks to the gossip around here. I cannot guide you, but I can direct ya over. There's two ways to do it so. One's the ship graveyard. You go through the place, around the kelp forest, and bam, you're there. Or if you're swimming among the surface, you better make sure you're above Atlantica at the position of the sun in two miles, and you swim down, and you're there!".

I blink in thought, furrowing my eyebrows inwardly with a exhale, and then smile softly at Scuttle, "Where's the ship graveyard?". Scuttle grinned brightly, "A little ways ahead of you.". He pointed a wing in the direction of west to the front of me, and I nod, "Thank you, Scuttle! Do you mind if I visit ya sometime?".

"Hey, any kind of company is great. You be careful, Eric, kiddo!". Scuttle patted my shoulder with his wing, and I smiled at him before scuffling to the edge, and jumping into the refreshing cool saltwater, and waved goodbye, "Bye, Scuttle, and thanks for everything!". He waved a wing, "Anytime, man!".

I then dived underwater, swimming carefully yet swiftly, heading west, and I was immersed by the incredible depths of the seas, the colors, the changes of environment. I turned around a crevice, and I gasped in awe as I stared at the several wrecked ships, and I understood why Scuttle called this place, a 'ship graveyard'.

I felt adventurous yet freaked out as I steadily made my way around and through the wrecked ships, and I then froze up when I saw a glimpse of red, and I swam faster, hoping that it's the mermaid, and turned around the side of another ship, and I nearly crashed into something big, something that froze my blood to ice.

Staring back at me, with a full mouth of sharp teeth was a shark! Not just a shark, but a huge one! I screamed for my life as I swam the fastest I could, "HELP!". I couldn't shake the shark in any way I went, and I soon grew tired, but every time the shark could almost bite my fins, I somehow got away, but it was growing rather desperate as I screamed for help.

I then heard a roar mixing with a shout, "Get away from him, you bully!". I looked back, and I stopped at once as I gaped in shock, seeing my mermaid glaring at the stunned shark, and there was a yellow/blue fish next to her. "You tell him, Ariel!", the fish called out earnestly, and I exhaled, finally exalted to find out the name of my mermaid. Ariel... It's perfect.