It was the last day, but she had nothing to worry about!
Ariel woke up with a spring in her step. While one could say last night has been a bit of a disaster, another could also point out that the two almost kissed! He was in love in her after all! She finally did it! All she had to do now was kiss him before the sun set and she was a permanent human!
"Congratulations, kiddo!" Scuttle was at her window, intruding and shaking her hand. While the former mermaid was overjoyed at the results so far, she still felt groggy – human daylight was a nightmare when it came right into the room. Nonetheless, the chipper seagull continued, "I heard the news just this mornin'!"
Sebastian, on the bed, looked up, his eyes blinking in confusion "What are ya babblin' on about, mon?"
"As if you didn't know!" Scuttle scoffed, but in a kind way, "The prince has announced he's gonna get hitched this afternoon – y'know, get married! Apparently both princes have their minds set on gettin' hitched!" The seagull went back to Ariel hand, shaking it, "Congrats, kid! I knew you could do it!"
Ariel's face brightened like the light that blinded her just a few minutes ago. She couldn't believe it! Eric was going to marry her! And Riku was going to have Sora as his husband, too! They were both going to be all right!
The former mermaid rushed out of the room, paying little attention to the fact that she was still in her nightgown. Remembering the steps before her, she descended down them with grace, which she had easily picked up two days ago from when she had walked down them for dinner that evening.
She was surprised to see Sora, still in his nightwear, looking down from the balcony at something on a lower floor, looking a little sullen and shocked.
Ariel put her arm around him, as if to ask what's wrong. Her friend responded by looking down at pointing over to five figures. She recognized Grimsby, Eric and Riku, but…
Who were the other two?
From the backs of them, there was also a woman with brown hair wearing a simple purple dress standing next to Eric, her head leaning into his shoulder. Riku was accompanied by a noiret, wearing simple blue clothing, the trousers darker than his shirt. His arm was wrapped around Riku's waist, and Riku's arm was in a similar position was his waist.
Curiously, she listened in, doing her best to not be seen.
"Well it seems as if your mystery girl does indeed exist, Eric!" Grimsby had exclaimed, sounding humorous as he let out a chuckle. He reached gently for the woman's hand and kisses it, "And congratulations, my dear. You are certainly a stunning woman with such a wonderful voice."
"We wish to be married as soon as possible." Eric informed, almost lacking any tone.
Grimsby's face looked confused, "Well, Eric, you see, the festivities will take quite a while to prepare…are you sure you can't wait a few days?"
"Tonight." Eric ordered, though without any aggressive tone in his voice, "The wedding ship. It departs at sunset."
Grimsby smiled at the prince, happily taking in the information. He then turned to Riku, looking concerned, "And Prince Riku, while you're parents aren't here, I am assuming you also wish to be married to this gentleman."
"That is correct, yes." Riku confirmed, in a tone similar to Eric's (essentially a lack of one, thereof).
"But who is this gentleman?" The confident asked, "I don't recognise him as being a part of any kingdom, and what about that fine young man-"
"He's not important." Riku interrupted, "And this is Zack. He comes from a neighboring kingdom."
"Very well, you two." Grimsby turned to leave, "I'll see to the preparations."
Sora looked as if he were about to cry, and Ariel's chest started to ache, her heart full of hurt. How could they do this? They loved them but only last night! Heck, Sebastian managed to sneak in their names into the song, so now they knew perfectly knew their names! But why…?
Taking ahold of Sora for comfort, Ariel guided them out quickly and quietly, to her bedroom, where they broke down over her bed, letting the tears flow through the sheets.
A while later, the two had ceased their crying, but stayed with one another in Ariel's room for what felt like a good hour or so.
"Hello?" a soft voice called to them. It was Carlotta, "Dear? It's just me, Carlotta. I'm here to get you ready for this evening." She walked in, Leon accompanying her, and Ariel made no effort to object, "Prince Eric is getting…"
"There you are, young man!" Leon said to Sora, his voice full of concern, "We've been looking for you since we couldn't find you in your bedroom." He put a hand to the boy's shoulders and escorted him out, "Come, I shall get you dressed for the day."
Ariel watched as Sora left the room, and allowed for Carlotta to get her ready.
The wedding ship had just departed, but Ariel and Sora were still at the docks. They had managed to escape the crowd and retreated a more tranquil part of the docks, where they were accompanied by Sebastian, Flounder and the twins. The four watched as the two humans curled up and sobbed in their arms.
"So…the princes…" Roxas stammered, "They…?"
"Yes." Sebastian nodded, quietly to avoid agitating Sora or Ariel.
"And it was just going great too…" Ventus commented.
At that moment, a flash of red emerged from the water next to Roxas. The blond was close to swimming away, but stopped when he recognised the red flash to be Axel, his hair seemingly more vibrant as ever in the sunlight, yet panic was filled in his eyes.
"Guys, I've been looking for you all everywhere! Quick, have you seen Terra?" He asks quickly.
"No," Ventus snapped, before his expression softened to a more curious one, "Wait…why?"
"I haven't seen him since last night!" Axel explained, "I only came here because I thought that maybe that he would've followed you," He pointed at Ventus, "Since he's sorta gone all crazy for you."
"No…we haven't seen him." Ventus said slowly.
"Did you go back to Ursula's and ask her?" Flounder asked.
"Come to think of it…" Axel pondered, "I haven't seen her either."
"You don't seemed so shocked about that…" Roxas noted.
The redheaded merman shrugged, "Eh, she's a bit of a bitch. It's nice to have to few minutes away from her." He smiled when Roxas chuckled slightly, but then chuckled himself once the blond realized what he was doing and stopped himself, wrapping his arms around himself as he shied away.
"Wait…" Ventus held his hand up, as he pondered, "You don't think…?"
Ariel and Sora raised their heads as they watch him think. Sebastian's eyes widened.
"Well, dat's something you'd expect her to do!" The crab explained.
"Ariel! Sora!" A voice from above called. Everyone looked up to see Scuttle descending, landing between the two former merfolk. He looked out of breath – he must have flown quite quickly, "Well I was- I was flying- well, of course I was flying- but then I saw- the witch- she- she was watchin' the mirror- singing- singing with a stolen set of pipes!"
Ariel's eyes widened, as did Sora's and Axel's, but Sebastian looked doubtful, "What're ya sayin' now?"
Scuttle grabbed the crab in a flurry, pulling him in close to his face, making direct eye contact, "Do you hear what I'm telling you?" he cried, "The prince is marryin' the sea witch!"
Ariel rose. Oh, Ursula was trying to deliberately make sure she failed!
"Wait, what about Riku?" Roxas asked.
"He must be marrying Terra!" Axel explained to him, "But…why? Terra likes Ven, so why would he…" His eyes widened with realization, "Oh, crap…"
"What?" Ventus grabbed his shoulders, looking at him directly with concern, "What's happened?"
"Ursula must've given Terra some of that potion she keeps talking about!"
"What potion?" Roxas asked.
Axel brushed him off, and went over to Sora, "Some prototype sleeping potion – all it does it halt the consumer's thoughts, but now's not the time to explain!" He held his arms out to Sora, "Quick, grab on! We need to get to that ship!"
Sora leaped on the redhead, re-positioning himself so he was on Axel's back, his hands interlocked around his neck.
Sebastian looked around, and made his way over to a stack of barrels. He used his claws to cut the rope holding them all together, sending them into the ocean, where they floated. "Ariel, grab onto that!" He ordered, as he threw the rope attached to the barrel back, "Flounder! You and the twins help get her there as fast as you can!"
"What could I do?" Scuttle asked openly.
"Stall the wedding!" Was the immediate reply he got from everyone (or at least, everyone who could speak).
The seagull saluted and flew off, "I'll go get help from the sea creatures!"
"And I'll go get the King!" Sebastian informed them, "At dis point dere's no hiding it!" He went off, and judging by how he went of swimmingly, noone was going to object.
Scuttle made sure that he did a pretty decent job at holding back Ursula and Terra from marrying Eric and Riku.
It was a few minutes til sunset, and the entire boat was a mess, the wedding cake now lying on the floor, with some parts landing on Ursula, before dolphins came by and spat in her face with sea water they had gathered up. Everyone else on the ship had retreated to hiding inside the ship, and aside from the two disguised humans, only Eric and Riku remained, although they didn't look as if they were going to move anyway.
There was also the minister, but he was too old to take note of anything around him.
Ursula stood there completely angered, before taking notice of Scuttle. The seagull had taken note of Ariel and Sora sneaking on the ship, with Axel and the twins looking in from the edge, while everyone was distracted, and in turn occupied the sea witch's time by grabbing at her necklace with his feet.
"Why you little-" Ursula grabbed him by the neck and throttled him too and fro, only he did not let go of the necklace.
As everyone emerged from the inside, they witnessed the seagull push against the woman – who'd referred to herself as 'Vanessa' – effectively causing her to fall back, and ripping away her necklace from her neck. When it smashed, a glow emerged from the remains, and made its way over to a redheaded woman they had not recognised.
Ariel looked over to Eric, whose eyes seemed to glow green, only for that to immediately fade away once she came into his view.
"Ariel!" Eric cried in joy.
"Eric!" Ariel responded and, predictably, the prince jumped in surprise at the sound of her voice.
Sora saw the silver-haired prince and was about to make his way to him, before noticing that Zack – his 'replacement', so to speak – was wearing a similar necklace to Ursula. While the noiret was off-guard, Sora approached him and ripped away the necklace, before running into Riku and enveloping him in a large hug, "Riku!"
"S-Sora, wha…?" Riku stuttered, before stopping himself and turning around, properly embracing the brunet.
"You both can talk…" Eric observed, "But…"
"Oh, we tried to tell you…" Ariel sighed, "But-"
"Eric! Get away from her!" A deep voice cried to him. That voice belonged to 'Vanessa', who immediately stopped herself from talking and covered her mouth in horror.
"It was you then, right?" Eric realized. This was the girl he had been looking for, "The girl who saved me?"
"Yes, Eric." Ariel hugged him again, "I did!"
"Ooh…" 'Vanessa' cooed, pointing at the sunset once everyone turned to her, "Do you see what I see?"
Oh no! They hadn't kissed yet! Ariel and Sora looked at each other, eyes widened with shock and horror.
Suddenly, they began to writhe in pain, falling out of the princes' arms. They screamed slightly as they felt their legs coming together, effectively merging into one another. Their tails were coming back, as they looked up at their princes in sadness.
"You're a mermaid…?" Eric began, but was hastily cut off as he heard 'Vanessa' cackling.
Everyone looked shocked as the woman, as well as the young man that she had first been seen with, began to glow an eerie green, their clothing ripping apart. The woman went a light shade of purple, lilac even, as her hair went white and her legs dividing to become six black tentacles. The man had instead formed a merman's tail, and lay unconscious after the transformation.
"Terra!" Ventus cried from where he was positioned, before he watched Ursula's arms hastily snatch Sora and Ariel as she crawled towards them and off of the boat.
"Goodbye, lover-boys!" Ursula snarled wickedly to Eric and Riku, before diving off the wedding ship.
"Ariel!" Eric went over to the edge and yelled.
"Sora!" Riku also yelled.
What were they to do, now?