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.

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Last Time:

Christella - Christella swam home. That night she cried herself to sleep.

Melody - Melody did so as she realised that the true purpose of her summoning had been fulfilled. Entertainment for Darcy's guests.

Chapter 11:

The next time the bell rung, Melody did not go out so blithely. She observed the man sitting with Darcy.

He was a weedy, cowardly teenager perhaps younger than Melody herself. She listened this time while she fed Darcy the sea grapes off a silver platter.

The boy was exchanging information as a spy of some sort for 'payment'. It was never mentioned what the 'payment' was, but Melody could guess.

Just as before, Darcy left to go the 'bathroom'. The moment he left, the boy came towards her with a hungry look in his eyes.

Melody pretended to be scared and when she was up against the wall, she swung the platter at his head.

His eyes rolled back and he slowly floated to the ground, a big bruise already forming on his temple.

Melody checked his pulse, he was alive. She propped him up in his chair and ate some sea grapes.

ooOoo

Christella woke up to the sound of knocking on her door. For a split second she thought, she hoped, it was Derek.

"Chrissie?" Her mother's voice sounded from behind the door, "Are you awake?" "I am now," muttered Christella in her grumpy reply.

Ariel slowly opened the door and poked her head around the door. Christella hadn't seen her in ages, it seemed and she looked so much older with her hair tied up in a bun.

"Honey," she said, "I have something to tell you." Christella propped herself up on her elbows and yawned.

"What?" she asked sleepily. "I have enrolled you at Finworthy's Academy." she said.

"You what?" demanded Christella sitting bolt upright. "You start tomorrow. I've been so busy lately; I've been very lax in taking care of you two… By the way, have you seen Melody?"

"No, but she's probably with Ray," spat Christella. "Ray… Isn't that the rebel merman?" asked Ariel.

Christella bit her lip; she had given Melody her word that she wouldn't tell mother. "Um… no… well yes, but…" Christella stammered.

Ariel ran her finger through her hair, looking much older in that one moment. "Will Melody be going to school?" asked Christella.

"No," Ariel murmured, "She's too old." Christella frowned. 'That not very fair!" she exclaimed.

"No, but she does have to help me with… political matters. As I've said I've been very busy, I could use the help."

Christella, pouted uncharacteristically. She felt she was getting the raw deal. "But why do I have to go? You didn't."

"Yeah, and my best friends were a fish and crab," said Ariel with a cheeky smile. "I just want you to be a bit more social…"

"That's what they all say." Christella mumbled. Ariel frowned, she didn't want Christella that she had to be the smart goodie-goodie since they had Melody, the flirty rebellious one.

"How 'bout we have a bit of a mother daughter day? I haven't seen you a lot lately and…" "Sure!" Christella interrupted, she didn't have anything else to do. She felt she couldn't face Derek, at least not today.

The two swam through the corridors, chatting happily. They didn't know they were being watched. A hooded figure swam silently behind them in the shadows.

Suddenly, it darted out and growled, "Queen Ariel," She whipped around to face it, shoving Christella behind her.

"What do you want?" she asked, fearless with her head held high. It chuckled and handed Ariel a sealed scroll.

Ariel and Christella stared at the scroll. "The Council will want to be there when I open this…" Ariel murmured to herself.

"The Council?" Christella whispered, "They are… my advisors." Ariel replied. Christella looked up and frowned.

It was gone.

ooOoo

They swam quickly and called the Council as soon as they got there. The first eight arrived almost instantly.

The last two swam in purposely slow one was a rather large man who had a smirk on his face whenever he looked at Ariel.

The other was thin and whip like with teeth that stuck out, and copied the other man's sneer at Ariel.

"So nice of you to join us Danson," said Ariel coldly. "I apologise, Your Highness. I was having a formal breakfast with my son and his new lady friend." He said with a wink.

"Her name's Mariya. You may have heard of her. She's from Mariya and the Merstars." Christella felt as if her heart was being cleaved in half.

"You were told it was urgent business Danson," Ariel's voice was soft and dangerous. "I'm inclined to make a polite apology to my son's possible future wife am I not?"

Christella wanted to cry and flee, but something held her back. In the back of her mind she had the feeling she was needed here.

"Now that we're all here," said Ariel, in a lighter tone, "Let's see what's in this scroll is. Oh, and it may interest you to know that this was given to me by the same who snatched my sister's baby."

The Council exchanged horrified glances, even Derek's father had the dignity to look slightly shocked.

Ariel slowly broke the wax seal and read it to herself once, twice, then out aloud.

"You have received this scroll to inform you that we have kidnapped your daughter Melody, Princess of Atlantica." Startled gasps came from the Council.

"You must have many questions, who are we, why did we kidnap Melody, and what will we do next? It is simple. We are part of a secret rebel group within that led by 'The Black Manta'." Angry murmurs came from the mermen.

"Even he does not know of our existence. We kidnapped the Princess for one simple reason. A ransom. We will gladly return your dear daughter; but in return, we want your husband, Eric the Human." There was mixed reactions from all of the Council.

But Danson laughed. "This is all a big joke." he said, "They must be stupid!" "It is very serious business that Princess Melody has been imprisoned Danson."

"What? Will she break a nail?" He laughed cruelly. Ariel frowned, "You are dismissed." she said to the Council in a near whisper.

"Mama," Christella murmured, "Where's Papa?" Ariel cursed under her breath. She hadn't told either of her daughters that Eric had made a decision.

Melody wouldn't have minded, but Christella and Eric had a special connection.

"He's… on the surface." Christella stared at her mother, she looked utterly betrayed. Without a word she turned and swam slowly away from her mother.

Ariel sighed. With Eric on the surface, Melody kidnapped and Christella as untouchable as the latter, she was utterly alone.