(Eric's P.O.V.) -A hour later-

I gasped in awe and amazement as I stared upon the shining city of Atlantica. I exhaled softly, "It truly exists.". Ariel spoke, "Excuse me?". Flounder was long gone, saying something about his aunt, through I got on well with him in the short time we chatted on the way. I sighed deeply, "My father told me stories about this place yet he never visited at all, and this is beyond everything I've imagined to be. I wish he'd have been here with me, with my mother...".

I felt a hand upon my shoulder, and I look over to see Ariel smiling solemnly, "I lost my father myself. He loved the city, but not as much as he loved us all.". I blinked, "Your family?". Ariel nodded, her smile getting stronger, "Yes, I am grateful that I have my mother and my sisters around to help me.".

I nod, "I have a uncle, but I left him in hopes that I'd be fine in my travels.". Ariel tilted her head curiously, "You have a strange way of speaking.". I smiled softly, "The surface'd do that to me. Humans are incredible people.". Ariel gasped, "Did they see you at all?!".

I shook my head, "Let's say that they were too busy to notice.", I then glance at the city, the aura somehow welcoming, like a warm sensation of freedom and magic, "Should we get going then? You say that your family must be worried by then. It sounds nice, a dinner.".

Ariel widened her eyes, "I would be rude if I don't invite you for dinner! After all, you saved me...". I smiled softly, "Yes, for the second time.", remembering that fateful night. "Second time? I could have remembered if I had met you before.", Ariel looked confused.

I gulped softly, "You were in a storm...I found you while fighting for my life to get to shore...I was too shy not to come out and face you when you woke up.". Ariel froze, her eyes glazing momentarily as if she was realizing something.

"It was you! I kept hearing a man's voice, in and out seeing flashes of black. But why didn't you come out then if you were shy? I wouldn't hurt a fish, no less a merman for saving my life!". Ariel exclaimed in shock.

I sighed heavily, rubbed my neck out of habit, a nervous tic of mine, and seeing a flat boulder, I flicked my tail over, sitting down, and I exhaled, looking at Ariel who's floating in front of me, a patient and very curious look on her face. Underwater, she's even more beautiful, and now I know that she loves her family, she can be brave, and she is an amazingly fast swimmer. I barely reached her walls, hoping to get to know her even further.

She indicated that she can be understanding, but will she be afraid or worse when she hears my confession? I bit my lip, "How much do you know about the surface?". Ariel blinked, "Not much, I am afraid to admit. I only learned some from Sebastian's stories and lectures, plus a bit from my mother. Humans catch fish and such to eat on. They can be so greedy and evil sometimes, yet wonderful and intriguing when they make strange objects. They walk on legs, under the sun, and they cannot swim so well like us.".

I sighed deeply, "It's true. We do kill fish and other creatures to survive on, to help us live. There are bad humans; pirates and murderers. We build houses, fire, boats, and so much more. Legs help us get around, they keep us tight to the ground, and yes, we cannot swim so effectively as your people does.".

Ariel looked confused for a few seconds, then gaped with her eyes widening during my confession, and she actually didn't scream or anything, just looked at me so intensely with those gorgeous blue eyes, and after a moment, her shoulders loosened like she was tense before, and her face softened into a awestruck expression.

"You're a human, aren't you?". Ariel breathed in amazement, and I nodded, "Used to be. Magic changed me into what you're seeing right now.". Ariel gasped, "Why? Why did you come here?". I smiled bashfully, "To get to know the one person I've saved, to befriend her truly, to see her world, to know what's like to be a merperson under the sea.".

Ariel blushed lightly, a squeak escaping her, and I loved the way she bit her lip out of embarrassment as she obviously heard her own squeak, and I grinned warmly, "And I don't care what anybody thinks of me as long as I know that you're really okay after that night.",

"I was relieved that you are alive that morning, yet I was deeply concerned that I wanted to know if you were hurt or anything. And I don't regret changing into a merman either.". I finished at last. Ariel looked speechless, sat down besides me, and she reached out a hand, but she stilled it just before my chest, looking at me, and I smiled softly, grasping her hand into mine.

A thrill came into my spine at the touch, my rough, leathered hand in her petite, slender hand, and I guided her hand to my heart, whispering softly, "We are the same.". My breath hitched at the cool touch of her hand upon my chest, above my heart, watching her eyes widen, her lips shaping into a expression I quite couldn't describe.

"Eric...". she breathed at last, and I loved the sound of my name from her voice, the way she says it, and I knew I wouldn't dare to forget this memory if I could help it. It seemed like it was only the two of us in the world for a wonderful moment when suddenly, a voice called out, "Ariel! Princess Ariel!". The moment broke, and Ariel retracted her hand from my chest, her face blushing pink like blossoms, and I blinked, clearing my throat.

We heard the voice getting closer, and Ariel sighed, "Herald, over here!". I saw a small orange seahorse, and is that a purple collar on him? Anyhow, he darted up to us, facing Ariel, "There you are, Princess Ariel! You're expected for dinner.".

Ariel winced lightly as she looked at me, "This isn't the way I wanted to tell you...that..I am..". I chuckled, "A princess? Ariel, there's no way I'd treat you any differently. We're friends first, right?". Ariel looked shocked for a moment, glanced at Herald, "Give me a moment, Herald.", and then faced me with about the most beautiful smile, "Nothing would make me happier, Eric. You must be hungry. Don't worry about Mother, I will deal with her of the matter later. Could you come for dinner, please?".

I grinned, "Ariel, I am so hungry that I could eat a whole chicken.". Ariel blinked in confusion, and I chuckled in embarrassment, "A human phrase.". Ariel giggled, and I smiled widely, loving her giggle, almost like the sound of the small bells from church.

Ariel glanced at Herald, "Tell Mother that we're having a guest over, and that we will be there soon.". Herald nodded, "Yes, your highness. If I heard right, your name is Eric, yes?". I nodded, "Yes, I am Eric.". Herald bowed before me, "Nice to meet you, Eric.". Then he swam off so quickly, almost like a hummingbird, and I chuckled at the thought.

"What's so funny, Eric?". Ariel asked as she got off her seat, hovering near me, and I joined her, "We have a animal in place of seahorses. We call them hummingbirds, and they are fleetingly so fast as your Herald. I could just imagine your Herald meeting one of our hummingbirds.". Ariel laughed warmly at that, "Oh, that would be glorious! What are exactly hummingbirds like?".

I instantly loved her laugh, so lovely and sweet like the musical chorus out of a harp. I proceed to answer her question, knowing that she would ask much more, and I will answer them all during our way to the city, to the incredible castle I'd seen in the distance. I hope her mother isn't too mad or something...