Hello, my viewers. Technically, this is the first story of 2023, and Ackbarfan5556 is once again, my partner on this. This will be a Little Mermaid AU, starting with one question. What if the storm on Eric's birthday, isn't a storm, but rather a hurricane? So, this is what our perspectives will bring to you, dear viewers, and I hope you all enjoy it, and imagine it all in your mind. Thank you. -Traveler.

1715, on the shores of Italy on the Ionian Sea, existed a small independent kingdom of Truilla in the Calabria region. A surprisingly quiet spot on a continent that had recently savaged itself in a war over who was to take the throne of Spain. 13 years of war and over a million dead left the balance of power shifted in Europe. Truilla's neighbors had changed from it. Naples and Sicily, under Spanish overlords, had been replaced with Austrian and Savoy rulership respectively. Venice was now fighting to hold its last Greek territories against its seventh war against the Ottomans.

But despite its location at the center of many conflicts, Truilla persevered, riding the storm of war and keeping itself free, but many were concerned in recent years after their death of their monarch and the kingdom now under the inexperienced rule of its heir, the young 18-year-old, Prince Eric.

Today is his birthday, and Eric himself is having a sailing day to celebrate, but there are moments where he is thinking about the fact that his people is judging him, not that he could blame them...

In his cabin, alone with Max, Eric sighed deeply as he gazed out the window to the sea, and Max whined, looking up at him from his spot on the floor, and Eric smiled weakly, "Do you think I'd be a good ruler, Max?".

Max, an old English Sheepdog with thick hair that covered even his eyes, walked over to him and gently brushed against him. Eric gave a small smile as he rubbed his loyal dog's head, "Well, it's nice to know that I at least have your support. Now I wish I could say the same for the rest of the kingdom."

Max whuffed lightly, and Eric chuckled wryly, "Well, we will have to see what happens...At least I'm not a prince at the moment, just a sailor today...Do you think Atlantica's real? I mean, being a merman with a tail, swimming underwater, doing anything I want, whenever I want...That sounds marvelous...", remembering the morning earlier today, learning about the myth of King Triton and his kingdom of merpeople as he glanced at the sea through the window.

It was an old tale told by sailors, all part of the old legends of mermaids, mythical sea monsters, whatever crazy tales spun by madmen of the seas. Grimsby, Eric's guardian and advisor, almost a second father to him in some ways, urged him to dismiss it. These were modern times, a period of enlightenment and discovery as the new world across the Atlantic was slowly being claimed and charted; the tales of the old world fading into obscurity and myth and a prince should pay no attention to fairy tales and myths and rather focus on the here and now; especially when the kingdom was still in such a precarious position.

But Eric didn't dismiss it from his mind; for even fairy tales and myths has a grain of truth in them somewhere, something his mother told him of, long before she and his father had died from cholera.

And besides, Eric would need something to dream about when he's exhausted from his future days of ruling the kingdom, and of course, finding a bride...Grimbsy wouldn't quit up on him which is both frustrating and annoying yet with good intentions and all...

The disappointment on Grimsby's face when he found out that Eric didn't want to marry the princess of Glowharhen...Eric has been over Italy and all, seeking out a bride for the past few years since he turned 16...And now that he is turning 18 today, the pressure will be even greater...He probably wouldn't properly breathe in the next few months if that...

But he wants to do it his way, not the kingdom's way or Grimsby's way...There has to be a girl who doesn't seek out for his riches, his kingdom...Just himself who loves the sea, music, and is a family man...But not many princesses like to sail, or they get seasick, and even some who likes music is rather, ah, off-pitch on either vocals or instruments, and of course, some princesses who'd rather be social than have children without need of nursemaids and all which is not normal to them...Only peasants do that...But Eric is different...

Mühlhausen.)

Not to mention the fact that he also wasn't too into many of the available brides; some almost too young in a few cases or ones that obviously was much more of an opportunity by their fathers or nations to bind Truilla under their lordship. And of course, he certainly didn't want one that was part of a family tree that didn't have many branches. Carlos II and his infamous inbreed Hapsburg jaw was a great warning to that; especially since his death basically started the last major conflict in Europe.

Eric ruffled the head of Max warmly as he kept staring at the sea before a knock sounded out, and he called out, "Come in!".

Grimsby came in, "Ah, Prince Eric, the crew is waiting for you to start the party.", with a proud smile, and Eric nodded, "Alright, Grimsby. Come on, Max. Let's have some fun.", and Max barked excitedly, wagging his tail, bouncing around.

"Uh, sir, before you step out on deck, I would very much like to talk to you in private while we can.", Grimsby put his hand to Eric's chest. "I know, I know, it's the same story you've been telling me for the past year now, Grimsby.", Eric rolled his eyes.

"This is a little different. Word has reached that the Bourbons are making inquests into your... availability.", Grimsby said. "The French throne?", Eric raised an eyebrow. "Grimsby, you're not suggesting you want this kingdom to be beholden to Versailles?".

Grimsby sighed heavily, "Eric, you practically went through all of Italy's available ladies. France is the next best thing, and you know that your mother's lineage had some French in it, and as you have narrowed your wishes for the right woman, the Bourbons has a daughter of similar age, 16, almost 17, I believe.".

Eric scoffed, "Any royal would exaggerate the gifts of their daughters. My mother gratefully didn't get exaggerated of her gifts with music, but it was fortunate that she found true love with my father, and I want that, Grimsby!".

Grimsby sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Despite the royalty, Eric still was a teenager in some ways despite his age now. "I know, Eric, but... I fear that we soon might have to be realistic and make a decision for the good of the kingdom... even if it might be at the expense of yourself.", Grimsby was trying to sound understanding and sympathetic for him.

Eric frowned at him, half-glaring before a sigh escaped him, and he replied, "Can you compromise with me on this? Today is my birthday, Grimsby.", and Grimsby looked at him before nodding, "Alright, I will let you be for the next three months...Perhaps there would be better opportunities for you to meet the right woman, but here's my deal. If you haven't found her by the end of the third month, I will see to it that you must meet the Bourbons' daughter. Is that acceptable for you?".

"Yeah, I suppose so. As you said... for the good of the kingdom..." Eric sighed as Grimsby motioned for him to the deck before he started to walk back out from the captain's cabin.

Meanwhile, at the same time, beneath the waves, what was thought to be legends and myths, were actually truths...

Atlantica, shining pristinely, is home to King Triton and a city of merpeople, and like cities and villages, gossip goes around, and today was the day of the concert that was to honor King Triton, and well, let's say, the concert didn't go successful, thanks to someone who goes by the name of Ariel.

A princess, the youngest of King Triton's seven daughters, in fact, and right now, she is being lectured by her father who is more than annoyed, he's angry.

"I just don't know what we're going to do with you, young lady.", Triton said. "Your careless behavior threw everything out of order with the concert today.".

"Ruined everything that I had done! All my hard work! That's all. Completely destroyed!", Sebastian, a red crab with a thick accent, shouted. "This concert was to be the pinnacle of my distinguished career. Now thanks to you I am the laughingstock of the entire kingdom!"

Ariel sighed, "Aww, come on, Sebastian, nobody hates you. You are the royal court composer and advisor of Daddy, after all.", and Sebastian glared at her, "No buttering me up, Ariel! And it's your father you should answer to, not me!".

Triton nodded, "Sebastian's right. What was so important that you were more than late for the concert?", with a sharp look. Ariel smiled sheepishly, "I was on an adventure, that's all. I was having fun so much that I guess I forgot.", technically saying the truth as she knew that her father hated the surface.

"You should have known better than to go off on important days like this, young lady! You are 16 years old, for Poseidon's sake! Perhaps, it's time for a change. Sebastian, what do you suggest?", Triton narrowed his eyes and glanced at Sebastian.

"Uh, well... I...", Sebastian clearly was faltering on the spot, not expecting to be asked in terms of punishment. "Hard to think of something?", Triton asked as Sebastian gulped.

"Well, I wasn't exactly expecting to be the one to give judgement; you're her father after all.", Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck.

Triton nodded, "True, but every time we do this, this is increasingly annoying...", and glared at Ariel, "Did I say that you could leave?!", seeing her sway further away from him.

Ariel saw the King, not her father, and nodded, stayed where she is, and Triton glanced at Sebastian, "We have tried everything, Sebastian.", and Sebastian stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Indeed...well, maybe not everything, sire.".

Triton quirked an eyebrow curiously, "Oh?", and Sebastian nodded, "Do you recall me informing you as of yesterday about the Lebrouche family's intentions to visit here in three days for the trade deal? If I am correct, they have a son, similar age to Ariel. You can have her host the family during the whole visit which would be a week while you figure out the details of the trade deal, keeping her inside Atlantica, and she wouldn't go off, flitting around and all.".

Atlantica is the biggest kingdom for merpeople, but there are other places, smaller kingdoms and such in the Mediterranean. Triton stroked his beard for a few moments before he nodded, "That might work. At least keep her responsible for once.".

"I am responsible!", Ariel tried to argue. "I just... lost track of time today, that's all.". She rubbed her arm as she looked away from her father's stern gaze.

Triton then replied, "However, that's in three days. What about now?", and Sebastian responded, "If I remember correctly, Ariel hates shucking barnacles.", with a knowing smile.

Triton nodded, "Yes, I see. Ariella, you are grounded from this moment on, your curfew is at 10, and you are to shuck barnacles for two whole days, and the final day you must study for hours how to host a royal family, and I believe Sebastian has ideas for those lessons.", using her full name.

Sebastian smirked, "Yes, I certainly do, and I believe her sisters would be delighted to keep an eye on her during the shucking and the lessons in case if I turn my back on her.", and Ariel widened her eyes, "WHAT?! That's not fair!".

Triton glowered at her, "Unless you are going to tell me why your adventure was so important to you, I will not lower the punishment!".

Ariel was with her back against the wall. If she told the truth, about being with her friend Flounder, searching shipwrecks and collecting their treasures that she had been hording in a secret cave; as well as going to the surface to talk with her seagull friend Scuttle to learn more about what she had collected. Well... her father would hit the roof... literally.

"Yes, Father... as you say, Father.", Ariel sighed as she slowly swam away, heading towards the direction of her room in the palace, and leaving the king and his advisor alone.

"You think I was too hard on her?", Triton asked; his heart obviously aching for his youngest as he never liked to see her sad or depressed.

Sebastian replied, "Sire, she's a teenager, and teenagers like to test the waters all the time. It's better for her to be reined in than be in danger, for certain!", and Triton nodded, "I suppose you're right, Sebastian. Still, she's Athena's daughter, after all...So headstrong...".

"Aye, may her soul be blessed, sire...Queen Athena was a great mother, sire...But yes, Ariel is quite like her, but she's also like you...She's stubborn.", Sebastian smiled gently, and Triton chuckled, "Fair enough...Can you make sure that she's in her room tonight? I still got some paperwork to do. Not that I trust her, but...like you said, better to be safe than sorry.".

Sebastian nodded, "Yes, your majesty...I will see to the patrols of the guards as well. After all, this isn't the first time she snuck out of Atlantica at sunset or afterwards.", and Triton nodded, "Indeed. Thank you, Sebastian.".

The little crab bowed to him, and then swam off to the direction of Ariel's room, leaving Triton to look over the kelp scrolls and such, murmuring to himself, "I wish you were here, Athena.", with a weary sigh.

Triton really pained in losing her. Especially in Ariel's case as she was so much like her, looked so much like her, inherited her singing... some days Triton often had mistaken Ariel for Athena a moment that she was still around before reality set in. He only wished that Athena was still around; she would've more than be able to properly take care of Ariel, Triton knew he would never be able to truly understand her, the same with his other daughters but many of them were already older when Ariel came along.

Triton absolutely hates pirates the most of all humans since pirates killed Athena when Ariel was only three...Athena had the idea to go have a peaceful day at the cove, a sacred place for merpeople to make merry and music...

Triton saw it all; their hooks, their harpoons, their nets, their cannons, and the last thing he saw was Athena's face when she was killed by a harpoon, having thrown Attina, their eldest daughter to Triton moments earlier as her little tail was pinned under a rock.

When Triton returned later with his trident, he found Attina's body, her tail sheared off, with the cove in pieces. He was enraged and grievous at the same time, holding her body the whole night as his anger stirred a storm that night on the distant seas.

It still felt so recent to him, but Triton had to move on, for his kingdom and especially his daughters. But it still didn't make the pain go away, especially with Ariel. He took a deep breath and returned to his chambers to be alone in peace.

Meanwhile, at the same time, Ariel certainly wasn't planning on staying trapped in her own room. She wouldn't dare cross her father with what he had planned, but she just needed some space to herself, and she'd much rather at least relax and calm herself amongst her collection.

Ariel glanced out the window, whistling musically, and Flounder came, swimming up with her bag in his mouth, and she smiled, taking it from him, asking, "Everything clear?".

Flounder nodded, "Yeah, patrol passed by a few minutes ago. You're clear.", and Ariel narrowed her eyes, "Alright, let's go, Flounder.", swimming out of the window, unknowing that Sebastian saw it all, and went to follow them.

It was about an hour later when they finally stopped, going into a cavern with a secret rock door, and Sebastian barely made it in, discovering Ariel's secret as she sang her heart out, with some venting about the punishment and all.

Ariel managed to convince Sebastian to keep it secret when she saw the shadow of Eric's ship, and she ventured out to check it out, curious and excited, wanting to have one close look before she would be forced to head back to Atlantica otherwise her father would see to increase her punishment.

Sebastian, on the other hand, was very much trying to get her to come back, especially considering the lights and sounds of popping on the surface. "Oh, Poseiden above, they fighting again, aren't they?", he groaned as Ariel soon breached the surface to feel the air against her head and seeing the sailing ship nearby as bright lights and explosions were ringing across the ship. Certainly looked much cheerful rather than any sort of battle.