Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original The Little Mermaid or The Little Mermaid II characters. I do, however own characters of my own creation such as Christella.
Chapter 2: Old Friends and New Enemies
Last Time: Ariel saw the potential conflict and said pointedly "Well we best get going then shouldn't we." They began their decent into the ocean, towards Atlantica.
Christella took a deep breath and plunged under the water. Melody was already under the water giggling. "You don't have to take a breath silly," she said laughing. Christella blushed as the mersoldiers started to smile.
Melody grabbed onto her mothers hand and they swam easily down through the water to the waiting seahorse-drawn carriage. Christella took her father's hand and they began swimming down more tentatively.
This was Eric's first time as a merman too and they smiled at each other and looked around them in amazement.
The sunlight was playing across the seafloor and the numerous sea creatures that were watching them with great interest. They reached the enclosed carriage and swam in.
"You took your time," said Ariel playfully. All thoughts of her fathers and oldest sister's death had fled her mind momentarily as she was in a much better mood now that she was a mermaid.
She had the Trident lying very naturally in her lap. It suited her well and Melody was looking out the window lost in thought.
"I missed the ocean…" she said wistfully. Eric was looking rather nervous though and Christella could imagine his look reflected on her own face.
The carriage began to move and Christella sat in the lounge opposite her mother and older sister and beside her father.
Awhile later, Atlantica came into view. It simply took her breath away. She had seen it in Melody's magical necklace but this was entirely different. There were masses of mermaids swimming around trying to get a glimpse into the carriage.
The carriage stopped and Ariel rushed to get out, Eric was close behind followed by Melody and Christella.
Ariel held Eric's hand tightly as he was looking a little bewildered. Melody went up to her father and held his other hand, so Christella took her mothers' hand.
Many people pointed at her tail and shouted out things such as "Long live Queen Ariel!" But more disturbingly, "Down with the human man!" Ariel frowned at this and moved a little faster.
When they reached the palace the guards saluted to attention. Christella blushed. Though she was used to being looked up to, as her father was a Prince, she had never gained such high respect.
They swam through the massive corridors, following Ariel. She knew exactly where she was going. She was beginning to become more solemn.
When they reached a pair of giant doors guarded by two mersoldiers, she stiffened and Christella sensed she was trying not to cry.
"This is where they were…" Ariel began before bursting into noisy sobs. The mersoldiers slowly opened the doors. The entire room was shrouded in black.
Two glass coffins edged with gold were mounted on black podiums in the centre of the room. Ariel swam forward and looked in first at her sister, then her father.
Ariel was crying, but of course Christella couldn't tell for sure. Her eyes were full of sorrow that made Christella's heart ache.
Ariel settled herself in a chair in the corner and tried to compose herself while Eric, Melody and Christella approached the beautifully made coffins.
Triton was in the coffin on the left and his oldest daughter Aquatta on the right. They both looked like they were only sleeping.
Christella felt a lump in form in her throat the size of a small apple, and began to cry. The tears became part of the ocean as soon as they formed so Christella's eyes didn't blur, as they would have on land.
As she sorrowed, Christella noticed something. On the inside of her grandfather's wrist was a small red mark. Curious, even in her grief, Christella looked closer and saw the skin was punctured.
Christella went to her aunt's coffin and found she too had a red puncture mark, but on her neck "Mel," Christella inquired, "Do they know how grandfather and Aquatta died?"
Melody looked at Christella sadly. "They were poisoned somehow, probably by some sort of crystal from the Veleno Caverns."
"What are they?" Christella inquired, "I'll tell you later," said Melody, "Not really the time and place, hey." Christella was jolted sharply back to reality, but was still curious about how her grandfather and aunt met their demise.
Christella slept badly that night, and in the morning she could tell that it was the same story for the rest of the family.
Ariel looked especially haggard and was listlessly drifting through the water, letting Melody and Eric take her where they willed. Christella was worried about her mother as she was usually in a constant state of bubbly-ness.
While Eric went ahead to open the door to the Great Hall for breakfast, Christella asked her mother what was bothering her most. "The fact they were murdered," said Ariel softly, "My father and Aquatta never did anything to deserve that."
"What would you do if you found out who murdered them?" Melody asked. Ariel paused, "I… I don't know," she murmured.
Breakfast was a lively affair and even Ariel regained some of her past vigor. There were many of friends of Ariel and Melody's from under the sea.
There was Sebastian and his daughter Minerva, Flounder and his oldest son, the merboy Derek, who Melody met during the 'Morgana Affair' and three of Ariel's sisters, Andrina, Arista and Adella.
Ariel's other two sister, Alana and Attina, had fled Atlantica mysteriously with their families at the news of the two deaths.
Andrina had come with her husband and baby son. Arista and Adella were yet to marry, but they were happy as they were.
When it came to eat, Ariel became more subdued, not talking much and eating very little, pushing the rest around her plate. Eric was casting worried glances in her direction. Derek, Melody and Christella were chatting good-naturedly.
Derek had matured a lot since Melody had last seen him. He was becoming a thoroughly attractive merman, but Melody wanted no more than to be friends.
Nobody noticed the cloaked figure drifting through the water. Nobody saw it approach Andrina's baby son, who was gurgling happily. Nobody noticed until it was too late.
Do you like it? Please feel free to review with creative criticism and suggestions. No flames please. And remember "The best thing anyone can do to help a writer is encouragement." Matthew Reilly, Bestselling author.