DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of the chars from TLM. They belong to Disney. I do however own Andrina's special name for Ariel.

Enjoy!

A/N: I'm so sorry for the long wait. Here's the next chapter! I hope everyone enjoys it!

"I Remember Music"

Chapter 7-A Little Piece of the Past

Aquata's singing did the trick. Ariel had a dreamless sleep for the rest of the night.

It wasn't until around six-thirty that another nightmare invaded her mind.

She saw herself being thrown backwards. She hit the base of a coral reef before everything went black.

Struggling to regain some sense of what was going on, the young mermaid started to thrash.

Unbeknownst to her, Sebastian chose that moment to come and check on her.

He cared about the girl greatly and wanted her to be all right.

As Sebastian got closer, Ariel twisted to her left and ended up knocking Sebastian off the bed.

He huffed as he tried to regain his balance.

"Dat's a fine way to say good mornign to someone who just came to see if you were all right."

"Huh? " Ariel said as she opened her eyes. She glanced around before her cobalt eyes landed on Sebastian.

She then felt dizzy as an image swam before her mind's eye.

Closing her eyes, she was hit with an image of Sebastian lecturing her about something. As quickly as the image had come, it faded to reveal another one. This one showed Sebastian and herself in a place that looked vaguely familiar.

As her mind cleared, she opened her eyes to find Sebastian still there.

She frowned.

"Sorry, Sebastian." She said.

"Well, it's all right. I know you didn't…" His voice trailed off as he realized what was happening. "Ariel, you got your…" He started to say something, but stopped as he saw Ariel glance around the room with the same confusion she had displayed the night before.

"Maybe not." He said. "But if you don't have your memory back, how did you know who I am?"

"I don't know." Ariel said softly. "It..it just came to me. It felt like a distant memory." She then added as an after thought. "Where did Aquata go?"

Sebastian shrugged.

"I don't know. Come on. WE better get downstairs. Your fada's waiting."

"Okay." With that, Ariel followed Sebastian to the dining room.

Once there, she took a seat in between Andrina and Arista.

Sebastian tried to warn her against this, but it was too late.

He could only take his place beside the King and pray that breakfast went by without a hitch.

Triton gave Ariel a fond smile.

"Ariel, are you feeling better this morning?" He asked. He wasn't expecting a miracle over night, but he was hoping she would at least talk to him.

Ariel shrugged.

"A little. " She admitted. "My head doesn't hurt as much."

"That's good. " Triton replied. He then turned to his six remaining daughters.

"All of you can go about your daily routine as usual. But I want you to include Ariel as much as possible."

"Yes Father." They chorused in unison.

Andrina threw Arista a glare. Andrina had been one of the ones who hadn't rolled their eyes at their father's pronouncement.

"I have a date tonight. " Arista announced. "I'm not baby-sitting."

"I never asked you to-" Ariel started, but was cut off by Andrina's hand on her shoulder.

"El, just let it go." She advised.

Ariel nodded.

"Thank you, Andrina." Triton said. He gave Arista a Look. "I never said you couldn't go on your date." He told her. "But it would be nice if you spent some time with your sister before hand."

"Yes Father." Arista said.

Sebastian whispered something in the kings' ear and he nodded.

"I think that's a wonderful idea." He said.

Sebastian smiled. He thought so too.

After breakfast was over, Andrina went with Ariel to help her get ready for the day.

Once that was done, they hung out in the library until Sebastian called them for lunch.

"Ariel, after lunch is over," He said, turning his attention to Ariel. "You will come with me. Dere's something I need to show you."

"Okay." Ariel said. She didn't' know why, but she trusted Sebastian even in her confused state.

After they had been swimming for a few minutes, Ariel posed a question to her long time friend.

"Sebastian, where are you taking me?" She asked.

"You'll see in a minute." He told her.

They stopped at a room often used for rehearsals.

Ariel crept cautiously forward and followed Sebastian inside.

"I didn't tink you were up for a music lesson with everyone here, so I tought you would do better if it was just us."

"Okay." Ariel said. "What song do you want me to sing."

Sebastian smiled at her knowingly.

"You pick it." He told her. "It's up to you. Anyting your heart desires."

Ariel nodded.

Her eyes wandered around the room as though searching for something.

When she spotted the piano in the corner of the room, she swam towards it.

Sitting down upon the coral bench, she closed her eyes and let her fingers do the rest.

As she began to play the familiar melody, she let her melodic voice accompany it.

She wasn't sure how she remembered the song. All she knew was how comfortable she felt singing it.

"I remember her

And how we were

I remember wanting

what the evening

Would be bringing

I remember singing

Under the bright blee

Endless sky

Waves try to measure

The days

That we treasure

And I remember music

And I remember love."

Once she was done, Sebastian grinned from ear to ear.

"Dat was beautiful, child. Your fada will be very pleased."

"What does Daddy have to do with this?" She asked.

"Never you mind, girl." He said.

He swam from the room with Ariel following close behind him.

"Where are you going?" Ariel asked.

"To see your Fada." He replied.

"Can I come? " Ariel asked.

"Why don't you go and see what your sisters are up to?" He suggested.

Ariel frowned.

"I don't think they want me around. " She confided in her friend.

"Don't' be silly. Of course dey want you around."

"Arista doesn't."

"Well, Arista's…don't let her get to you girl." He comforted.

Just then, Aquata came out of the dining room. She grinned upon seeing Ariel.

"Hey, Ariel." She greeted. "I was just about to go get something in the market place. Wanna come?"

Ariel didn't know what it was, but the sound of going somewhere different struck something in her.

Her heart started to race with not nervousness but excitement.

"Sure!" She replied.

As Sebastian watched them swim off, he smiled to himself.

"Ah, yes. We'll get our Aerial back soon enough." With that, he went to meet the King.

Arriving at the throne room door, Sebastian knocked.

"Come in." The King said.

Sebastian did so. He smiled up at him as he swam in front of his throne.

"Ah, You're Majesty, I have great news. It seems I have found de key to getting our Ariel back."
"And that would be?" He prompted.

"Music, sire. Music." He said. "Ah, you should have heard her. She sang so beautifully. It was like noting ever happened."

The King nodded. His brows knitted together in thought for a minute.

"Where's Ariel now?" He asked.

"She went with Aquata to de market." He replied.

"Fine, fine. When she gets back, have Aquata bring her to me. I want to talk with her."

"Yes, You're Majesty. Right away." With that, Sebastian left.

Meanwhile, Aquata and Ariel were just heading back from the market.

The trip had been exciting as well as a little tiring for the young mermaid. But she enjoyed it all the same.

As they entered the palace, They were stopped by Sebastian.

"Ah, dere you are. Your Fada wants to see Ariel immediately."

He then got a good look at her and frowned.

"Are you all right, girl?"

"Yeah." She replied. "Sebastian, I'm fine." She yawned just then. "I'm just a little tired."

"Den you should rest." He said. "I'm sure your fada will undastand. He can come see you later." With that, Sebastian left.

Aquata lead Ariel back to her room. She asked her if she wanted her to stay and Ariel shook her head.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm just gonna take a little nap. I'll be fine. Don't worry so much."

Aquata giggled as she ruffled Ariel's hair.

"When will you learn? As the eldest, it's my job."

Ariel smiled despite herself.

"I don't know if you want to hear it," Aquata began. "But I love you."

Ariel nodded as she lay down and closed her eyes. She wanted to return the sentiment, but she couldn't, at least not yet.

Aquata left the room in order to let Ariel get some rest.

On her way down to the kitchen to get herself a small snack, she ran into Andrina.

"I need you to watch Ariel for a little bit. " She told her. "I left her sleeping in her room."

"You left her? " Andrina asked incredulously.

"She told me to." Aquata replied defensively.

"Did you two have a fight?"
"No! We went to the market and she was tired from the trip. So she went to take a nap. I asked her if she wanted me to stay and she said no."

"It's not up to her." Andrina said exasperatedly. "At least not right now." With that, she swam off in a huff towards her little sister's room.

"Don't you dare wake her up." Aquata called after her.

Andrina sighed as she pushed open her little sister's bedroom door.

Ariel was sleeping soundly for the moment. Her right arm was dangling over the side of the bed and her breathing was even and slow.

Andrina smiled at the sight.

"Oh Ariel," she whispered as she went to adjust the covers around her. "What are we gonna do with you?" With that, she sat down near her bed and watched her little sister sleep.

Ariel awoke with a start a few hours later. She glanced around the room and relaxed when her eyes landed on Andrina.

"It's okay. " Andrina said. "I didn't mean to scare you. I came to check on you after Aquata told me she had left you alone."

"I told her to." Ariel confirmed.

"Ariel, you heard what father said."

"I know. But I need some time alone too so I can sort some things out. It's not that I'm not grateful to you guys. It's just…" Her voice trailed off as a frustrated sigh escaped her lips. "Oh, I don't know. I just wanna remember."

"I know, El." Andrina soothed. "I know. And you will. But you need help to do it. You can't do it alone."

"I know. So did Arista go on her date yet?"

Andrina was taken aback for a minute at the fact that Ariel had remembered that.

"What?" Ariel asked.

"Nothing. " Andrina said. "And to answer your question, yes."

Ariel sighed.

"She probably left to get out of helping me." She said.

"Ariel..." Andrina started, but her younger sister cut her off.

"Andrina, it's okay. You don't have to try and protect me from her. I've known it ever since I came home from the hospital. I just got the feeling that I'm not her favorite person."

"Ariel, she loves you." Andrina tried to convince her. "Just like we all do. She really does. She just…has a strange way of showing it. Do you know she fought with Adella to be the first one to hold you when you were born?"

"She did?" Ariel asked. She had moved closer to Andrina unconsciously.

Andrina nodded.

"The funny thing was, when she got her wish, you weren't too happy about it. You started crying and looking towards me."

"I wish I could remember stuff like that." She said softly.

"You will." Andrina promised her. "In time, you will."

Later that night, Adella had swapped her turn with Andrina due to a test at school. It was a hard one and she needed to get at least a B on it as well as the next one coming up in order to save her average.

She hated history with a passion.

As she flipped open the book, she sighed. She wished Ariel was better because then she would have her to help her.

Just then, Andrina knocked on her door.

"Father says you need to take your turn." She told her. 'I would gladly do it, but I have the night shift tonight."

"I thought Arista does?" Adella asked.

"She does." Andrina confirmed. "But Ariel's a little apprehensive about having her there. So I told her I'd stay until she fell asleep."

"All right. I can fail history later."

"Why don't you study while you're with her? Kill two lionfish with one stone."

Adella thought for a moment before gathering up her books and leaving the room.

Arriving in Ariel's room, she found her sister reading a book while laying down.

"Hey sis." She said. "I hope you don't mind me having to read while I'm here. I have a big test in history tomorrow."
Ariel shook her head.

"It's okay."

Adella had been reading for what felt like hours, but was really only twenty minutes, when she became stumped.

"Okay." She said to herself, not realizing Ariel was paying attention. "The greatest hero to almost conquered Valhalla…"

"Apollo." Ariel said.

"What?" Adella asked in surprise.

"Apollo was the greatest hero that almost conquered Valhalla."

Adella stared at her sister in shock for a minute before grinning.

"Maybe you'll be able to help me scrape a B after all."

"If you wanted my help, why didn't you just ask? I don't mind." Then under her breath she added, 'It's not like I'm doing anything else."

"I didn't want to tire you out." She explained.

"Helping you with a few history questions isn't going to tire me out. I promise. Now listening to Sebastian drone on about…"

"Ariel?" Adella said quickly.

"What?"

Adella motioned to the door.

Ariel blushed.

"Oh, hi, Sebastian. What's up?"

"Dat's what I like to know. Go on, girl. I can't wait to hear dis one."

Ariel shook her head.

"What I meant was…" Her voice trailed off as she suddenly shut her eyes and sucked in her breath.

"Ariel!" Sebastian said in alarm. "What's wrong, child?"

"It hurts…" Ariel said in between labored breathing as she buried her head in her hands. "it really hurts!"

"Adella, get your Fada!" Sebastian ordered. "I'll stay with Ariel and try and keep her calm."

Adella left without a second thought. She was scared for her sister and wanted her to be okay. The only question was, what was going on?