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 just on a roll with this story! I hope everyone likes the next chapter!
"I Remember Music"
Chapter 10- Dreams And a New Start
Ariel woke up later that night feeling really thirsty.
She tried to remember how to get to the kitchen as she left her room.
As she made a left, she saw a door up ahead.
Pushing it open slightly, she realized too late that she had made a mistake.
The room was decorated with seahorse stuff.
As Ariel was about to back up, her hand brushed against the dresser, causing one of the figurines to fall to the floor.
"Huh!" She gasped as she watched its descent.
The sound of the crash affectively woke Arista from her sound sleep.
"What's going on now?" She mumbled. "I was dreaming about Jeremy. And it was a good dream too!"
Ariel didn't move, nor did she speak. She had a feeling she was in trouble.
She had remembered the confrontation she and Arista had had at the breakfast table and she didn't wish to repeat the experience.
"Whose there? " Arista demanded.
Ariel held her breath, praying Arista would think she had just heard something and go back to sleep.
But as Arista rose from her bed, Ariel knew that was wishful thinking.
"I'm sorry." Ariel whispered. "I didn't mean to wake you up."
Arista sighed as she realized who it was. She knew she owed Ariel some kind of apology for her behavior earlier, but she couldn't bring herself to say the words.
Heaving a sigh, she swam forward and extended her hand.
"Come on." She said. "Let's go wake up Andrina."
She was about to lead the way out of the room when Ariel's voice stopped her.
"What's that?" She asked.
"What's what?" Arista said as she turned back to face her.
Ariel pointed to a small gold object hanging from a coral chain.
"Oh that." Arista said with a small smile. "That's the medal father gave both of us when we stopped gators from stealing the royal treasure."
"We did?" She asked.
"Yeah, we did. " Arista said, softening considerably.
Hesitating only slightly, Ariel said, "I wish I could remember that. I wish I could remember anything."
Hesitating for a minute, Arista suggested, "I could tell you what happened if you like."
"Really?" Ariel asked not daring to believe it.
Arista nodded. She swam back over to her bed and patted a spot for Ariel to join her.
Ariel did so.
When Arista was sure she had her sister's full attention, she started the story.
"We got into a fight." She began. "It was a pretty stupid one if you ask me."
"What was it about?" Ariel asked.
Arista hesitated.
"It's not important." She insisted gently. "Just know that it was pretty stupid."
"Please, tell me." Ariel insisted
"It was over a hair comb." Arista answered.
"A hair comb." Ariel said trying not to laugh. "That is kind of silly."
"Anyway," Arista said. "Father put his fin down when he found out we were arguing again. We had been arguing for a while and Father was getting tired of it. That's when he beached us from going to the carnival. I...I said some pretty mean things to you after that."
"Did I forgive you?"
"Eventually." She said. Then in a soft voice she added, "But I Never forgave myself."
"Why?" Ariel asked. "What did you say to me that was so bad?"
Arista frowned. She didn't know if she could bring herself to tell Ariel the truth.
But as she gazed into her sister's blue eyes, she knew she had to say something.
"I…I told you I would I would never speak to you again." She said.
"But everything's okay now, isn't it?"
"I thought it was." Arista said. "I know you don't remember this, Ariel, but a few days after we went to the carnival together, you took me on one of your adventures."
"What did we do?" Ariel asked.
"Well, you took me somewhere special." She said. "Somewhere you've never taken anyone else before. You made me promise not to tell anyone-especially Father. And I know this might not mean much to you right now, but I want you to know I've kept the promise. I haven't told anyone about your grotto."
Ariel nodded.
"So where do we go from here?" She asked.
Arista gave her sister a half smile.
"I would say back to sleep, but I don't think either of us are sleeping tonight. So…."
"Did you like the adventure we went on?" Ariel asked her sister.
"More than I could express." Arista said. "It was a lot of fun. Like I told you a few months ago, I didn't think you liked me."
"How could I not like you." Ariel said. "We're sisters."
Arista shrugged. She then got an idea.
"Come on!" She said. "I wanna show you something."
Ariel took Arista's outstretched hand and followed her out of her bedroom.
They swam for a few minutes before Arista stopped at a door and opened it.
Leading the way inside, Ariel found herself surrounded by stalls.
The sound of nickering met their ears and Ariel jumped back.
"It's okay." Arista assured her. "They won't hurt you. Come on." With that, she lead the way over to her own horse, Champion.
"Is he friendly?" Ariel asked.
"Yes. He's very friendly." Arista said. "And he loves you."
"Why?"
Arista actually giggled.
"because you always spoil him with treats." She said. With that, she held out a sea cabbage and handed it to Ariel.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" She asked.
"Feed him, silly." Arista answered. "Here, I'll show you."
Arista took her own treat and held it in the palm of her hand. She made sure her fingers were out of the way and waited for her equine friend to come forward.
"Come on, boy." She said. "Look what I have."
Champion came forward after a minute and sniffed Arista's hand.
"Do you want the treat? Come get the treat." She coaxed.
The horse whinnied happily before taking the cabbage from his best friend's hand and swallowing it whole.
"Do you wanna try now?" Arista asked, turning to Ariel.
"He won't bite, will he?"
"No." Arista assured her. "Here. I'll help you." With that, she swam forward and took another cabbage from the basket.
Handing it to Ariel, she showed her how to position her hand to avoid getting bitten.
Ariel copied her sister's actions and soon found the horse in front of her.
"Be gentle." Arista cautioned the seahorse.
Champion took the treat from Ariel's hand and nuzzled her.
"See?" Arista said with a smile. 'I told you he likes you."
"Do I have a seahorse of my own?" Ariel asked.
Arista nodded.
"But I think she's sleeping." She said honestly. "Her name's Sea Star. She's a sweetheart as well. You can see her tomorrow." She said. "Come on, let's get some sleep." With that, Arista made herself comfortable on the stable floor.
"We're sleeping out here?" Ariel asked. "But won't Daddy be mad?"
"Nah. I do it all the time." She said. She hesitated a minute before continuing. "I always wanted to ask you to join me. But I didn't' think you'd be interested. So how about it, sis?"
"Okay." Ariel agreed.
The two sisters made themselves comfortable and Arista put a coral colored blanket over Ariel.
"Night, Ariel." She whispered. "I'm glad I was able to share this with you. I just hope you get better soon." With that, she made a daring move and wrapped an arm around Ariel's shoulders.
That was how Sebastian found them the next morning.
"Dere you two are. Tank goodness! Your fada is in a right state. What in all of Atlantica were you tinking!"
"Sebastian, chill." Arista said as she sat up. She gestured towards Ariel who was still asleep. "You'll wake Ariel up."
Sebastian calmed but only by a fraction.
"What were you tinking. Ariel is very fragile right now."
"That's what you think." Arista countered. "She's fine. Did you think I was going to let something happen? I'm more responsible than that."
"But Ariel and you are…and…aw mun! It's too early for dis!"
Ariel yawned just then and started waking up.
"Sebastian?" She asked as she opened her blue eyes and sat up. "What are you doing here?"
"Delivering a message. Dat is if you two girls don't drive me to an early grave before I get de chance."
"What message is that?" Ariel asked through another yawn.
"Your fada wants to see you."
"Okay." Arista said. 'I'll take Ariel and.."
He wants to see you too." He told her.
Arista nodded.
Ariel exchanged a look with her sister. They both were thinking the same thing.
Was their beached experience about to be repeated?
If it was, Arista made herself a promise. She promised herself she wouldn't blame Ariel or let her temper get the better of her this time.
"You wanted to see us, Father?" Arista asked as she swam into the room, followed by Ariel.
"Are we in trouble, Daddy?" Ariel asked anxiously.
Triton softened at the look of apprehension on his youngest daughter's face.
"Not entirely. " He said.
"Ya-you aren't gonna beach us again, are you?"
"Again?" He asked.
Arista filled in the blanks.
"I told her the story last night." She said.
Triton nodded before turning back to Ariel.
"I don't' think this situation warrants that severe of a punishment."
"Then what's up?" Arista ventured.
"The one thing I have always raised you girls to be above all is considerate. And when Sebastian woke me up last night and reported that both of you were missing…"
"We're sorry, Father." Arista started. "It's just that…"
"It's my fault." Ariel spoke up. 'I…I got lost and I woke Arista up and…then she started telling me a story and…"
Triton raised his eyebrows.
"She did?" He asked.
"We had some things to straighten out." Arista explained.
"And did you?"
"Yes." Arista replied, giving Ariel a small smile. "I think we did."
"Good. " He said approvingly. "But next time, please, let someone know if you're planning on camping out in the stables."
"Yes Father." Arista said.
"Can we go now?" Ariel asked.
Triton smiled.
"Yes you may." He said.
"Great!" With that, she practically pulled Arista along with her as she made her way back towards her bedroom.
Halfway there, they ran into Andrina.
She did a double take when she saw who Ariel was with.
"Ariel, are you okay?" She asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine." She replied. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Andrina shrugged, but chose not to say anything for the moment.
"I'm going down to get something to eat." She informed her youngest sister. "Wanna come?"
Ariel grinned.
"Okay." She said. She turned to Arista. "You wanna come too?"
Andrina's jaw about hit the ground, but she recovered quickly.
"Sure!" With that, the three sisters made their way down to the dining hall for breakfast.
Breakfast went by without a hitch.
Ariel ate as much as she could and she wasn't experiencing as much pain as before.
After breakfast was over, Ariel and Arista headed for her room to spend some time together while Andrina did some last minute homework she had to finish.
As they entered the room, Ariel caught sight of the broken horse figurine and frowned.
"I'm sorry I broke that." She said, glancing down at it.
Arista shook her head.
"It's okay." She assured her. "It wasn't one of my favorites anyway."
Ariel sighed with relief.
The two sisters sat on Arista's bed and Arista showed Ariel some of her favorite horse things as well as told her some stories about the various horse competitions she had won over the last few years.
"It would be fun to see you compete." Ariel said.
"Well, maybe you will." She told her. "I have a competition next month."
As the hours wore on, Arista could tell Ariel was becoming tired, even though her sister wasn't saying anything.
As Ariel yawned, Arista suggested something to her.
"Why don't you take a nap?"
"I do feel kind of tired. " Ariel confessed. She got up to leave, but Arista stopped her.
"You don't have to leave." She told her. "You can sleep in my bed. It's okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." Arista assured her. "I don't mind. I'll just read a book while you're asleep."
Once Ariel had laid down, Arista made sure she was warm enough before getting out a book and starting to read. She kept an eye on her little sister while trying to concentrate at the same time.
Arista just prayed Ariel had a nice sleep and didn't experience anymore nightmares. She really wanted Ariel to regain her memory. But the sixteen-year-old would take what she could get at the moment.
Ariel found herself in the same strange place from the night before.
Only this time, it was lined with statues and different colored coral pieces.
As she tried to find her way out, she heard a familiar tune playing somewhere up ahead.
She followed the music, hoping it would lead her out of the strange room.
As Ariel continued to follow the sound, she saw a door up ahead. She opened it and went through.
The minute she did, her surroundings completely changed. She was in the fair ground once again.
She didn't know why, but she felt like she needed to find someone. Who that someone was, she wasn't sure. All she knew was she needed to find them soon.
The sound of someone calling her name made the young mermaid turn around.
The voice was gentle and sounded worried.
"Ariel? Ariel, where are you? El!"
When she heard the person call her 'El, she had a feeling it was Andrina.
But why would Andrina be here with her? And where was here?
She then heard someone else calling her name. The voice was soft as well, but it also sounded insistent.
"Ariel, Ariel, come on. It's time to get up. Ariel…"
Ariel awoke to Arista gently shaking her. She opened her blue eyes and sat up quickly.
Too quickly she found out a minute later as pain seared through her head.
"Ariel, it's okay. " Arista assured her. "Are you all right?"
Ariel sucked in a breath as more pain came.
It stopped after a minute, which was strange in itself.
"Ya-yeah. I'm fine. Where's Andrina?" She asked.
Arista frowned in disappointment.
"She's downstairs in the dining room. Which is where we both need to be soon? It's almost dinnertime."
Ariel nodded.
"Arista, can I ask you something?" Ariel asked hesitantly.
"Sure." Arista replied. "What is it?"
"It's just I had this really strange dream and…"
"Ariel, Arista! Dinner!" Sebastian called.
"You can tell me about it later. " Arista told her. "We don't want to be late." With that, she lead the way out of the room with a very confused Ariel following her.
When they got to the dining room, Ariel sat down next to Arista and across from Andrina.
She mouthed to her best friend that she needed to talk to her and Andrina nodded.
Even though Ariel tried to concentrate on her food and the conversation around her, she couldn't get her mind off the dream she just had. What did it mean? And why did that song that was playing sound so familiar? Once more, why had Andrina been in the dream?
Ariel wanted answers. But she had a feeling it was going to be a little while before she found them.
She glanced up as she heard her name from right beside her.
"Ariel?"
It was Arista.
"Yeah?" Ariel asked. "I'm sorry. I wasn't ignoring you."
"it's okay." Arista assured her. "Do you wanna go to the market with me after dinner? I need to buy a new saddle for Champion."
"Okay!" Ariel agreed at once.
Arista smiled at her. She was glad she and Ariel were getting along better. She only prayed it would last once Ariel got her memory back….