"I've decided"

Jim rolled his eyes.

"You know how Mermaids grow legs when they touch the ground?"

"No, but okay"

"Well, I just get someone to find her, bring her on land, and then we get married!"

"Eric, do you honestly remember what this girl looked like?" Grimsby cut in. He hadn't been too pleased with the idea of his Prince marrying a mer girl, but, as Eric himself pointed out, better married than not.

Eric paused.

"Well… I know she had beautiful eyes. And the most wonderful voice…"

"I think we should send young Jim to find this girl and bring her back"

Jim looked up, his eyebrows raised.

"What did you say?"

"You're the only one who got a good look at the girl. You would be able to find her, correct?"

"Yeah, but-"

"Perfect! Jim, you have to go and bring her back to me" Eric announced.

"Eric-"

"Jim, I love this girl. I need you to do this for me"

Jim looked from Grimsby to Eric, and then sighed irritably.

"Fine"

"Wait, your Majesty, there's one more thing"

Eric glanced and Grimsby, and his face fell.

"Ah, yes. Jim, Tomorrow I'm leaving to meet with the Royal Family in… uh… well I'm going away for a while. But I'll be back in a couple of weeks. Do you think you could have her by then?"

Jim shrugged.

"Sure"

Jim took a deep breath of salty air, and grinned. That he was on this ship to find and retrieve Prince Eric's bride-to-be didn't change the fact that he had missed being on the sea more than he thought he would. He still preferred not to think too much about the fact that Eric was going to marry that girl…

"Mr. Hawkins"

He jumped at the familiar title. The only people who had addressed him thusly were Captain Amelia and the teachers at the ISA. But it was just the man in the crow's nest.

"Mr. Hawkins, you might want to see this"

Jim accepted the telescope, and peered into it. Though less powerful than his telescope, it still did the job, and he saw several shapes on the rocks ahead that resembled mermaids.

"Thanks" he said, before scrambling up the rigging to get a better look. They were lying there, on the rock, some playing instruments, some singing, and some simply sitting. But none of them was that girl.

"Hey, Captain" Jim called "Sir? Would it be okay if you let me off here? I think I should go and look around"

"Sure thing Hawkins. Good luck"

"Thanks"

Jim felt the ship tilt as the anchor was lowered. Then he leapt onto the side of the ship, and jumped onto land. He had been given a pack with food in it, in case the mission took a couple of days, but he hoped it wouldn't.

Soon enough, he was deep in the lush forest.

There was a cracking noise. Jim whipped around. He retraced his steps, pushed a branch back, and found himself staring at a small cove. There were many boulders around the cove, and perched on one of them was a girl.

A girl with bright red hair and a green tail.

"You" she breathed. Jim looked down, half confused, half cautious. But when he looked up into her face again, she was smiling widely at him.

"Uh… I'm supposed to bring you back with me" he muttered, wanting to get this part over and done with.

"You remember the Prince you rescued?"

She nodded.

"Well… he wants to marry you"

The girl jumped so violently that she fell off the rock. Jim managed to catch her, bringing their faces inches within each other.

"So… uh…" Jim swallowed, fully aware that he was blushing and hating himself for it.

"W-will you come with me?"

She nodded again.

Jim was about to begin helping her towards the boat when he paused, smacking himself on the forehead.

"What?" she asked him, one eyebrow raised.

"I forgot to ask your name" he replied, a tiny sheepish smile playing on his lips. She laughed.

"Ariel. My name is Ariel"

"James Hawkins. Or Jim"

A/N: gah I love these twooooooooooooooo. So adorkable. Anyway, review, favourite, tell me what you thought of this chapter. Next one up tomorrow!