Epilogue

...

Ariel and Eric were matching each other's passionate kisses and warm caresses, caresses that continued to lead further into their wet, threadbare clothes, until finally someone cleared her throat and quietly said, "You know Eric…I helped rescue you too."

Ariel pulled back from Eric's lips and tried to catch her breath. There, standing not 5 meters away with an amused grin on her face, was Ella. Ariel felt as if she could have shoved Ella back into the lake for interrupting their reunion, but it was probably best that they had stopped. They were still within a league of the Queen's castle and Snow had said that the knights often patrolled the boundaries extensively. After all, this was not the safest place to be celebrating in such a human way, even though it was such fun.

Eric smiled his dazzling whites and walked over to Ella to scoop her in a big, bone-crunching hug. He stood, hugging her hard, and spun in a circle until the maid giggled delightfully, hugging him back just as hard. "Eric you're going to be in trouble," she piped up after he set her down.

Eric blushed. "I'm sorry…that wasn't very polite was it?" He had turned to Ariel to address her, but she did not understand what the problem was. He was greeting his friend why would that make him in trouble? Why did humans apologize about the oddest things? Eric glanced down at Ariel's bare legs. She had not thought it possible, but he managed to blush an even deeper shade of crimson at the state of her undress. "I...that is, we should find you some clothes Ariel."

Ariel rolled her eyes to the heavens. "I don't understand you people's obsession with these clothes. First you can't wait to get them off and now we have to go find more, and then I'm sure you'll want to find female clothes-"

"Ariel, how are your legs?"

Eric's interruption was so sudden, Ariel was surprised out of her ranting and raving. "What?" she asked stupidly.

"Your legs," Eric repeated, as he and Ella approached her. "They were giving you such pains earlier." He glanced at her thighs, then jerked his eyes up again, his face even redder then before. "If you need me to carry you again, I can."

"I…I feel well now," Ariel said, surprised herself. And she did, the pain in her legs were completely gone. Ariel looked down at her bare feet. Her feet did not hurt anymore, either. In fact, she felt absolutely wonderful. Dirty, in ripped clothing, wet to the bone, hungry, but wonderful! She waited for Eric to say more, but his attention had gone to her mouth.

"You…you can talk?" he said slowly. "You did not speak a word until…we were in the water together and then you had a …tail?"

"Eric, don't you remember," Ella interrupted. "Ariel is a mermaid."

"Ella!" Ariel did not know whether to throw something at her friend or laugh out loud.

Eric's eyes widened, but he didn't say anything. Yet.

"You are a lot better now," Ella added, cocking her head at Ariel. "What cured your pains?"

True love!

All three teenagers jumped. Strolling out of the depths of the Enchanted Forest was a tall, regal-looking woman wearing a long green cloak and a quiver of arrows with a pure white wolf trotting gaily at her side: Snow White and Rain the wolf. The wolf was the one who had spoken up, using a short bark and low, extending rumble in her throat that all understood perfectly, thanks to the gift of a mermaid's voice. Snow smiled at all of them, as if it were normal to have half-dress, dripping wet teenagers as company in the middle of the night. But then, with her life as it was now, such things were often normal. They all looked a bit out of breath, frazzled from escaping the lake, but appeared to be all in one piece.

"Who are you?" asked Eric, somewhat suspiciously. He seemed a little intimidated by the new pair, his eyes glanced nervously at the wolf.

"They're our friends," Ariel answered quickly. She addressed Snow. "Did everyone make it?"

"Yes," the princess smiled, her gentle face lit up with sheer happiness at the sight of the two united lovers and Ella, safe and sound. "Red is leading the hunting party away right now."

"What about that other woman…Belle?" Ella spoke up. "When we both got to shore, she took off…saying something about needing to get to a 'Rumple' and help him."

Don't worry, she couldn't have gone far. Rain snapped at the air, then let out a snort. I'll head her off and escort her to…wherever she wants to go. I hope she won't mind traveling with a beast. The wolf shook her furry face and as she stepped forward, changed her form as easily as one slips off a blouse. The night light made her deep tan skin a few shades darker than usual, her big golden eyes shined in their glee. "I knew it!" Rain called out, hopping from one foot to the other, her hands clapping together, quivering in excitement. "I knew true love would save you mermaid!"

Both Ella and Eric shrieked. The wolf immediately lost her giddy expression and turned apologetic. "I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I thought that Ariel told you I...I can...I can do that."

"Do that?" Eric stammered. "I didn't know anyone could...do that."

As quickly as she had wilted, Rain was ecstatic once again. She threw her arms around Ariel, nearly hugging the breath out of her. Still squeezing tight she lifted the mermaid off her feet and oddly, began to hop up and down with excitment. Her grip reminded Ariel that Rain had about as much experiences with hugs as she did, it was lower than what most humans did and too strong. Breaking away, Rain said to her. "You are free now."

"What…what do you mean?" asked Ariel, massaging her abdomen.

"Didn't you know? I thought for sure that was why you were saving your true love…" Rain blushed, but continued to explain. She seemed to be the only one in the know-how. "I spoke with Ursula the Sea Witch. She had stripped away half of your being, your very form, and you would have died if not for the help of true love."

"I…lost my form?" Ariel was shocked. That was why she felt those pains? Why she had been so weak and strained this last month, she had been on the verge of death and did not know about it.

Rain scratched her dark hair with a thought, looking hard at the mermaid. "I thought you knew, but had I told you I supposed it would not have worked. It would have instilled doubt, and that doubt would have prevented anything from happening. True love, it has to happen on its own, not by anyone making it happen. At least…that's what the stories always say. To have truly worked, it would mean his willingness to give himself over to you, his very soul, despite everything that has happened. And so it must have worked because you have a new soul and he has his!"

While the mermaid was taking all of this in, Rain turned to Eric. "You saved her life." She threw her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss while he was distracted. His eyes went wide, and he didn't move, shocked. Rain rolled her eyes and turned to Ariel. "Men! How long were you going to wait to tell him?"

Ariel shrugged. "I did not know myself. I just wanted to save him because…I wanted to."

Eric drew a deep breath that sounded like a small gasp. Her eyes found his and he held the gaze of her deep blue eyes for a long time. She didn't look away but her eyes filled with tears of happiness. More than anything in the world, he wanted to put his arms around her and kiss her again. He started to say something, when Snow interrupted. "We should go now, there may be more coming."

The moon was shining through the coniferous trees, allowing the pathway to light up as they all passed through gentle rolling hills of the Enchanted Forest. They didn't talk for fear of the guards that were patrolling the woods. For once, Ariel did not care to use her voice. She was thinking about what the wolf had said. True love, she mused; she had not thought about it in a long time, not since that awful time in the ocean when she first met Rumplestiltskin. But if what the wolf said was true, and Ariel trusted her…she and Eric had done what had never been done before. Ariel was now a completed form, mermaid and human, a voice and soul in one. That was a complicated thought, but it had been a long day and she was too tired to think very hard on it.

By a stand of aspens, Snow turned them all on a small trail that would lead them past a main road. The woods were devoid of any presence of guards, Red was obviously doing a good job of confusing them with her combination of wolf and human tracks. The narrow path snacked its way through the overlaying forest wilds. The crisp, clean smell of a game trail made Ariel smile, and she could hear the retreating sounds of the lapping lake water behind them. The stars shone down from the open coverage, twinkling happily as if they knew it was a night of celebration.

Further down, they came to an open area of bare rock, the piney trees made way for more aspen and maples. Here Snow paused; they were at the crossroads now. One section of the path led to the main road, arching towards the village, the other further into the forest. "I've got to be heading back now," Ella spoke up, breaking the spell of the silence. "I am sure my stepsisters have a pile of laundry just waiting for me as a coming-home gift."

"You're going back to that awful place?" Ariel was indignant.

"For now…yes," Ella said softly as she nodded. The steely glint in her light blue eyes told the mermaid not to argue. "I need to take care of my home."

"And I'm out too," Rain tilted her head up, sniffing the wind. "I can catch up with…'Belle' was it? She'll need some protection if she's to get through these woods." She hunched her back, readying herself for the change, when she suddenly thought of something and turned to speak directly to Ariel. "Take care of yourself mermaid. Remember, I owe a great deal to your kind, so if you ever need assistance on…anything at all, just sing. Sing me to you." With that somewhat cryptic statement, she turned, bounded away, and changed into the white wolf in mid-air. Making happy wolfie sounds as always, Rain exploded into the night, the forest floor flying underneath her paws.

The quartet watched her bound off for a moment, all a little shocked at seeing the sudden transformation from wolf to woman. Snow finally spoke up. "I'll help escort you back Ella." She draped a gloved arm over the younger woman's thin shoulders, shoulders that had to bear so much weight. But now…not alone.

Ariel turned her face away so that her friends would not see her tears. Sorrow like mourning song filled her heart, sending tingles down her arms to her fingers. She did not want to say good-bye. Rain had departed too abruptly, she did not even have time to say farewell. Why was it so hard to part ways? Human emotions were so annoying sometimes! Despite her misgivings, she bravely gave both women a parting hug, sniffing a little, but managing not to look completely foolish. If not for Eric standing next to her, she would be blubbering like an idiot or begging her friends not to leave.

Not just her friends…her family, she corrected herself. That was what they were now, a family.

As she let go of Snow White, the little mermaid suddenly thought of something. Something that would insure that they would see each other again. The moment Snow let go, Ariel gripped her hand in a strong clench and looked intently up into her forest-green eyes. "Snow…when the time comes and you start the fight to take back your throne…"

Snow shook her head hard. "Ariel, I'm not going to…," she started to say.

"When it comes to the battle to take back the kingdom…" Ariel's voice had a harsh edge to it now. "Just call on me, and I will fight by your side." She clapped a hand on Snow's shoulder in a manner befitting a sailor. "Mermaids…we are more than the stories say. We have our own magic and I will always be your ally."

"And so will I," Eric spoke up.

"I will too!" Ella added her voice to the melee.

Snow was at a loss for words. A year ago, the thought of fighting against Regina would have sent cascades of fear down her spine. Now, the words of her friends…their faith in her… brought her back in full force. She gulped to herself and took a deep breath. "I'm…," she sighed, not wanting to crush the mermaid's trust. "I'm not sure that will happen Ariel. At least, not anytime soon…but if…if I ever decide to…"

"You will!" Ariel appeared to be holding onto this belief so hard, Snow was not willing to argue further. "I know you will. Someday…I think Snow White will take back her kingdom."

…

By the time Snow and Ella had reached the main road, Eric and Ariel were still walking hand-in-hand through the Enchanted Forest. They had no worries about hunters. Ariel's mermaid senses told her that all was clear, the woods were theirs for now. The sky was devoid of any overcast, the bright moonlight foretelling good weather to come. The large trees of the forest grew so close they held back the night's breeze and its chill, making the trail a safe refuge from the cold and filling the air with aromatics of cone trees and clean earth.

Crossing a small brook, they came to an open space of early spring wildflowers, the blue and white blossoms covering the ground like a regal carpet. Ariel stopped to smell some. She remembered the time, long ago now, when she and Eric had been in the market together and she had smelled a flower for the first time in her life.

Eric stood next to her, and waited until she straightened up, wondering at this amazing girl. She had saved him, in a way that no one else could. He was young and inexperienced in matters of the heart, but he did know that he wanted to be with her. He could not imagine being with anyone else. Her courage, her heart, her marvel at the world and all its wonders…he would not see that in anyone else but her. Ariel, the little mermaid.

While Eric was lost in his thoughts, Ariel stood and joined him. She tucked a strand of her uneven hair behind her ear, and smiled up at him. He grinned back, for no other reason than her smile made him so inexplicitly happy.

"You know…" she whispered her eyes mischievous. "We never got to finish our dance."

Eric narrowed his eyes. "What dance?"

Ariel took his hands in hers, squeezing them lightly. "At the Harvest Festival! Don't you remember?" The breeze blew stray wisps of her silky hair back over her cheeks.

And he did, that night at the festival was ingrained in his mind forever. The way her face was lit up with wonder, her hair long, full, and glowing as if on fire, and every other sensation that he could remember. From the raised platform at the center of the village square the quartet of strings had sounded a cheery tune into the fall night. As he closed his eyes at the memory, he could feel her own eyes on him. He looked back at her. "Of course I do" She was so close he only had to speak in a whisper.

She shrugged but her face betrayed her inner thoughts. She had something in mind, something that involved the memory of their first dance together. "Eric, would you…" For a moment it seemed she was going to ask him something, something that he had once asked her.

She looked so beautiful in the moonlight. Not just the way she looked but her whole being. Eric did not even pretend to understand what the wolf had said earlier about souls and true love, and Sea Witch's stealing mermaid's forms, but he did know that she was special. And not just because she was a mermaid. He finished her thoughts, "I would love to dance Ariel."

He smiled and bowed, like the gentleman he had been taught to be. Ariel grinned shyly up at him, then bent her legs into a curtsy. Just as clumsy as the first one she had done so long ago, but somehow it seemed fitting for her. They approached each other and placed their respective arms in the proper places. They swayed back and forth, back and forth, waltzing to the rhythm of a song they both remembered so well. Eric recalled the way she had stepped closer to him that night and the look in her eyes when she had done it. "I wish we had the musicians here now."

Ariel put her hand on the side of his face. "We have something more." She smiled her special smile, the one that spoke of wonder and excitement, the one that sparked of curiosity. Then, she began to vocalize to a song:

Now's your moment

Floating in a blue lagoon

Boy, you better do it soon

No time will be better

Eric threw back his head and laughed gleefully out loud. She had the same song in her head, from that night so long ago, and he wanted her to continue to sing. More than anything. Her voice...it was the most wonderful voice in the whole world.

She don't say a word

And she won't say a word

Until you...

He leaned forward, and so did she, before the last lyric left her lips. When they were done, Ariel's beautiful voice took to the air. Her heart, dreams, and joy lifted with it.

Kiss the girl!

The End!

That is final chapter of my adventure in writing "The Mermaid's Tail"

Many many thanks to my steady readers, reviewers who took the time to tell me their thoughts, and good friends that I've made along the way…you know who you are!

I am planning a sequel to this tale. A story of the many adventures of Snow, Charming, Ariel, Red, Rain, and the whole gang before the fall of the evil queen. Coming soon!