An Unbelievable Departure

"You have got to be kidding!" But by the look in her eyes, she obviously wasn't.

Her mother was leaving.

Forever.

"I'm sorry Melody, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime! Not everyone gets a summons from the Disney Kingdom- they want to make me a Disney Princess! I'll be sixteen years old forever and I'll be rich and famous! Of course, I can never come back because the Disney Kingdom is a world away, but you can still see in all the merchandise they're going to make with my face on it." Ariel shined a cheap, flashy grin.

Melody was disgusted, and her faced showed it loud and clear.

"Oh, honey, don't look at me like that. You would've done the same thing."

"Actually, no. That shows how well you know me." Eric stood up, having not said a word since his wife broke the news, and stood next to Melody, leaving Ariel sitting alone. "She's right, Ariel."

Ariel, wearing an absolutely fake smile, glanced at Melody.

"Melody, why don't you check if Carlotta needs any help with the laundry?" Melody got the hint that they wanted to be alone and left the room, slamming the door.

Ariel was not happy.

"So, let me get this straight- after all we've been though, after I gave up everything I had beneath the waves for you, just so we can be together, and you side with a stupid teenager instead of your own wife just because I want to do something for myself for once?"

Eric, now boiling mad, got all up in her face.

"How dare you talk that way about our daughter! I may not get to spend as much time with her as I'd like, but at least I love her enough to be there for her when she needs me. And I'd never be selfish enough to take off forever and leave my family behind. You know, you're not who I thought you were. I married you because I thought you were already a kind and mature woman who could handle family life, but apparently you're too self centered to even treat your own child with respect!"

Ariel blinked, appalled by Eric's courage.

"For crying out loud, Eric, stop over reacting! Melody's fifteen; she can handle things on her own without any extra help. And besides, the maids and the cooks-"

"The maids and the cooks aren't her mother! That's it I'm done! Get out of my castle! I don't care where you go I just never want you to see Melody or me ever again, you heartless witch! Now get out NOW!"

Ariel gave a sly grin and wave, and then jumped out the window into the sea.

Melody had been outside the door, hearing the whole argument, and she'd had enough of this. She decided that the only thing she could do was seek help.