Hello, Everyone!

It's been such a long time since I updated a story.

I'm really sorry for the delay. I take a really long time when I write and I didn't have a lot of time since school was starting again.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed or favorited!

I can't promise the next chapter will be updated quicker, but I'll try.

Anyway, please enjoy!

Somewhere deep under the waters of the middle of the sea, lay a kingdom hidden from plain view. The kingdom consisted, not of normal people, but of beings that had the upper bodies of humans and the tails of fish; they were mer-people.

Worshipped by all entities who had the capability to thrive underwater, King Triton lived in his palace, located in the middle of the kingdom, with his seven daughters who were known as the seven princesses of Atlantica. The youngest and by the fairest of the princesses was snuck tightly under her coral silk duvet with light from the surface cascading all over her doll-like face. She was currently having a dream about her soon-to-come 18th's birthday, which would grant her permission to have a glance at the upper world, the world of the people onland. Her scarlet hair flowed with the soft current and her emerald green tail swished in the water.

Her name was Eriel.

"Yaaaayy!"

"Natsu, Happy! Don't go too far away from our spot!"

They were at the beach, which was the third chapter of the book. After having all changed into swimming suits which were provided by Virgo on Lucy's command, they had settled at a sunny area of sand for some relaxing. Lucy breathed in the salty but cool air. A warm smile spread out on her features and the light breeze made her hair dance.

Wendy stretched out in the sand beside her. "Mmmm...It feels like we're on a vacation! I wish we could come to the beach all the time, right Charle?"

"Yeah."

Then suddenly a wave hit them. Or so Lucy thought at first.

"I'm all wet!"

She stood up quickly and started squeezing the juice out of her hair. Wendy spit out ocean water.

"Yeah! We got her, Happy!"

"Aye, sir!"

Natsu and Happy started running away, as soon as Lucy sent them a glare that reminded them of Erza when someone stepped on her strawberry cake.

"You are so dead. Natsu."

She dashed across the sand, chasing the fire mage with Happy, safe in the air, forgotten.

"Natsuuu! Stop!" Lucy started to slow down, apparently out of breath.

Natsu gave a cocky grin." You're giving up then?"

He trotted back to where Lucy was standing without suspicion.

"Gotcha."

A dark grin appeared on Lucy's face and before Natsu could even realize what she had said, Lucy leaped on top of Natsu and the two rolled in the sand.

When they finally stopped, their tanned bodies covered in golden sand, Lucy was on top of Natsu with both her hands pinning down the boy's shoulders.

Lucy closed in and smirked.

"Now it's 1-1. Blame your own naivety."

Natsu grunted. But upon realizing their current situation his expression changed to that of a triumphant one.

"This reminds me of last time," he breathed.

"Huh?" And before she could utter another word the boy pushed her off him without effort and pinned her down with his body on top of hers.

"Now this is what I call turning tables!"

Lucy inhaled sharply at the sudden change of dominance and the proximity of their faces, not to mention their intimate position. "Get off me!" She heaved but the fire mage didn't even budge. What was it with boys and their inhuman strength? Lucy panicked and felt the heat rising to her head.

Unfortunately for Lucy, Natsu only shortened the distance between the two and whispered:

"Blame your own naivety."

Lucy's face flushed. She had to find a way to distract him; she had to get him off her before her head exploded from embarrassment; she had to-

"Maan~ It really hurt that time, you know. I'm still holding a grudge against you." Natsu sighed as he got up.

"Eh?"

"I'm talking about that time when you kicked me in the *censored*!"

"Oh." Lucy turned blank. All the color drained from her face and quickly returned reddening her face more than ever. What had she been imagining?

Natsu continued."How could I lose to you twice? You keep tricking me into making me come back." He had his back turned to her.

Lucy sighed in exasperation. She could feel all the tension and energy leaving her and she flumped limply on the ground. A feeling she wasn't accustomed to flooded inside her. Was this disappointment? Why was she feeling so depressed all of a sudden? Because this proved Natsu didn't see her as a girl but only as a friend? Why should this even be bothering her?

Then something hit her. Not an idea, something literally hit her. Something called seawater.

Lucy swiped her head. "Quit it, Happy!" She didn't feel like playing games anymore.

But it wasn't Happy. It was a tail. A green tail. A green tail sticking outside just above the water.

A head popped out close to the green fish tail. The head had scarlet hair achingly familiar to the mages.

"Erza?!"

The scarlet haired person responsible for slapping Lucy with seawater looked flustured.

"M-My apologies. I thought you were someone else." Erza (or rather Eriel) stuttered.

Then it-she disappeared back into the water.

"What just happened?"

"Really? You saw Erza-san?" Wendy looked around with excitement.

Lucy nodded "I bet she's the mermaid from the 'The Little Mermaid'."

Happy looked excited as well. "Erza's a fish?!"

"A mermaid." corrected Lucy.

"Whatever. Let's just get her back right now." Natsu crossed his arms and said as if it were the most simplest task in the world.

"But where do we look for her?" inquired Lucy.

As if in cue, a blue haired man, clad in silk and royal-looking garments, riding a white stallion galloped towards them. Upon reaching them he came to a halt. Even as he lowered himself off the horse and stood on a level ground he could not stop the regal aura radiating out of him.

"Jellal?!"

Facing the stunned audience Jellal knelt down and introduced himself.

"I am prince Jeric. I am searching for a red haired maiden with a green tail. Have you seen her?"

"This is the first time I've seen a person ask around if they've seen a person with a tail." Happy commented.

"Hm? Isn't he talking about Erza?" Lucy asked.

Prince Jeric (what a weird name) shook his head. "No, no. The one I'm looking for is named Eriel."

"Eriel?" The group echoed.

He closed his eyes. "Once upon a time, there was a very handsome prince-"

"Don't say it's you."

"Uh-yeah so one day he fell into the sea and was drowning. Just as he was losing his consciousness, out of nowhere an angel-no a goddess came and rescued the very handsome prince from the brink of death."

Natsu waved a hand in front of Jeric's eyes but he was too into it that he didn't even notice.

"Then the very handsome-"

"Quit it with the very handsome bit."

"-prince lost conciousness. When he woke the goddess was looking into his handsome eyes. And for some reason his back was killing him."(Erza had beaten him awake.)

"And then the two started dating."

"Wow, that was fast."

"So, the conclusion is that I was playing hide and seek with her.' Jellal finished.

"So the handsome prince was you." Everyone sweatdropped.

Wendy tilted her head. "So, who's the seeker?"

Jellal smiled. "We're both the seeker and hider. We have to find each other first while hiding."

Natsu looked excited. "Hey, that sounds fun! Lucy, let's try this later!"

Lucy blushed and tried to change the subject. "Anyway, Wendy, kiss him already."

Wendy's face turned into the color of Erza's hair. "W-what?! Oh yeah."

Jellal closed his eyes smirking. "I'm sorry but my lips are not for anyone, you know."

As he was saying that Wendy kissed him on the cheek. Wendy "eek!"ed and covered her face with her hands, embarrassed.

Jellal's handsom-sorry eyes widened. The group watched as he went over his shock of his memories flooding back into him.

"I remember everything now! How could I forget?"

Eriel was tired. Where was her prince? Her tail drooped on the boulder she was currently sitting on as she had looked for hours. She started to pout.

"Erza!"

A distant voice called. Eriel swiped her head to the direction the noise had come from. Erza?

As she squinted her eyes toward the direction she could she a familiar blue haired figure coming closer and closer. Prince Jeric came running and halted in front of Eriel, panting but smiling his charming smile.

"I'm sorry for making you wait."

Then he leaned in- the sudden action alarmed Eriel making her face turn into the same color of her hair.

Their lips met. A big wave crashed near the boulder and made the scene look more dramatic with the sunset.

Erza's eyes widened at the sudden memories flooding into her but closed her eyes and deepened the kiss. Her hands explored the back of his head and Jellal held her by cupping her cheeks.

From a few metres away, Wendy covered her eyes once again and Lucy gushed, "How romantic!" and blocked Happy's mouth as he said, "But you and Natsu did it too-"

Back at the boulder, Jellal finished the kiss.

Erza found her breath. "Jellal,"

"Found you." He said playfully.

Deep under the sea in a cave, a sea witch was waiting. Waiting for a guest.

Her prediction was never off and currently her hunches were telling her that soon, a visitor would come.

"Is anyone here?" She heard a voice call.

Her grin widened, showing her large teeth glistening in the dark.

"Come in~ How may I help you?."

I12Bfree: So how was today's chapter? I think many people would've expected Juvia since she's the same age as Ariel(from disney's Little Mermaid) and is a water mage. But I had planned to put her in another story and Erza has scarlet/red hair just like Ariel's.

Erza: You made Jellal into a weirdo.

I12Bfree: *smiles apologetically* Sorry 'bout that. So anyway for those of you who didn't get why Erza was Eriel and Jellal was Jeric here's the explanation!

Wendy: I12Bfree combined the names Erza with Ariel (from Disney's Little Mermaid) and Jellal with prince Eric (also from Disney). But I don't get why the title was 'The Not-So-Little Mermaid'.

I12bfree: *stares at Erza's breasts* You can't really call that little, can you?

Wendy: *bursts into tears*

I12bfree: In addition, we've got a new corner! It's called 'Next chapter preview!'

Wendy: You call that a new corner?!

Erza: So!

Everyone:*in unison* Next chapter preview!

-Next, in ' Juvia White and the Seven Matchmakers'

"I still can't get used to Erza like that!"

"Stop it Natsu."/

"This is the most fairy-tale-like scenery I've encountered after being sucked into the story."/

"Who do you think I am? I'm a fxxkin' prince, do you hear me?"/

"What's wrong Lucy?"/

I12Bfree: It kinda sucks but I hope you'll be waiting for the next chapter!

Natsu: Stay tuned for the next chapter!

Lucy: This isn't a TV show, you know...