A/N
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! :)
1. norisclub: you're right, I always struggle with description!
2. Ashlee Pond and MariaClaire: thank you!
3. secondstardust: I guess Eric could've been a more supportive husband and traveled the world with her, but where is the tragedy in that? :)
4. The BritCrit: great point on the negotiating space bit, I hadn't thought about that. I also hadn´t thought of making the tentacle monster the same one from the beginning, but that´s a great idea, it would tie the story more snugly together. Axantur also makes this point.
5. Axantur: I like what you said about many Ariels.
a) One Ariel is the fairytale princess who lives happily ever after with her prince
b) A second Ariel is the manipulator you describe, the dark opposite of the fairytale Ariel (which is always fun to imagine)
c) I'd argue the Lighthouse Ariel was trying to go for something more (cough) human. Some relationships don't last even if neither party is an evil witch. People grow apart :(