"I got your favorites, Ariel.", Eric chuckled, and Ariel smiled brightly, "Peaches!", as Eric sat next to her, grabbing a stick for the meat to cook while laying the pile of peaches near them, giving a peach to Ariel who immediately went for it.
She sighed happily, "Good, so good.", and Eric smiled, chuckling as he grabbed another one for himself, "I will find a way to get a picnic with you one day, and you will love the food from the palace.".
Ariel leaned her head on his shoulder, "That would be so wonderful...", and Eric held her lovingly as they ate dinner, soft conversation here and there, and eventually, they went to sleep, wanting to spend as much as possible the entire night in their dreams as it will be so bittersweet in the morning.
Eric found himself in Ariel's grotto, looking at Ariel on her seating rock, and he smiled softly, "You look beautiful, Ariel.", as he swam closer, and Ariel blushed, smiling, "Thank you, Eric. I...I..hope I don't disappoint you...".
"Disappoint me? Ariel, I will never leave you like that as I love you, and honestly, it should be me...I mean, I don't want to disappoint you as I don't know how to even start like this...", gesturing to his tail with emphasis.
Ariel nodded as she blushed. "Well, I guess then I might as well take charge then right now... it doesn't take too much to learn.", she told him as Eric nodded, "I trust you, Ariel.".
Ariel smiled happily, and pushed off her rock, kissing him as she wrapped her arms around him, wrapping her tail around his tail as she moved her hips up and down, her scales causing friction against his scales, whispering to him, "You can start off like this.".
"That's actually how it sort of starts too with humans... friction.", Eric admitted as Ariel chuckled. "Really not too much difference between us...", she smiled.
Eric smiled warmly before tightening his arms around her, his tail getting interwoven with Ariel's tail, moving his hips as well, kissing Ariel's skin as she moaned in pleasure, "Eric!", and Eric immediately liked the sound of his name like that as he kept going, his moans filling the place as Ariel and Eric grinded each other, unknowingly that in the real world, too much deep in their dreams, Eric and Ariel was doing similar things, with Eric near the campfire, and Ariel in her kelp bed under the water.
Max was happy for them, hearing the muffled moans through the water from Ariel, and the moans filling the cove from Eric, and decided to leave the cove through the cave, guarding while laying down.
Back in their dreams, the merman and mermaid kept going before Eric felt something change, and looked down to see Ariel's vent appearing, and then a spot of scales on his tail receding back, and his eyes widened to see a long, strong, thin, slightly thick organ slowly coming out.
"So... that's what you were meaning when you mentioned a merman's... organ.", Eric admitted as Ariel nodded. "Well, to be honest, I'm just going from what Daddy told me when he gave me that discussion. I... actually have never seen one before.", she told him.
Eric exhaled, "So, I am the first one...", and Ariel blushed, "Well, yeah, you're my soulmate...It is right...", with a smile.
"We can stop now if you want to, if you're nervous.", Eric spoke gently, and Ariel shook her head, "I trust you, Eric. And besides, like you said, I always see things through, even if I am stubborn.".
"Touche.", Eric chuckled softly before asking, "So, merpeople do it up in the water like this?", and Ariel nodded, "Sometimes. It's also on the sea sponge bed, and on the sand.".
Eric grinned warmly, "Well, you might be happy to know that humans do it on the bed, and on the ground.", and Ariel gasped, "Really?!".
"Yep...", Eric nodded, and Ariel looked at him shyly, "Can we get down to the sand, since it's like the ground, like humans do?", as if she may never get to be a human, she would experience a bit of a human way in this...as it's the next best thing next to eating surface foods with Eric.
"Sure.", Eric said as the two of them floated down to the bottom of the grotto that had stone surface at the bottom replaced by a deep layer of sand.
"Sometimes I keep forgetting these are dreams...", Ariel chuckled as Eric smiled. "Certainly nice to know how much control we have...", he said.
Resting on her back, the warm sand touching her skin, Ariel smiled softly before exhaling as she looked down at Eric's organ, and reached to touch it, earning Eric to gasp in surprise, and she whispered, "It's warm and strong, just like you...", wrapping her tail tighter around his tail, tugging him closer, and Eric took a deep breath, leaning in to kiss her as he let Ariel guide him closer to her...Gods, he's going to do it with a mermaid, his little mermaid, his soulmate...
Eric whispered, "I love you, Ariel.", looking at her with so much love and amazement. Ariel whispered, "I love you too, Eric...", using her other hand to unclip her seashells free from her breasts.
The seashells fell away, exposing herself to him as he sighed and looked at them. They were fairly small, but to him, they were a perfect size for her. She was blushing red as he continued to look before she tapped his cheek. "Sorry." He apologized as he went red too.
Ariel shook her head, "You don't have to be...Do I look okay?", and Eric looked at her, "Okay? Ariel, you're enchantingly beautiful! My little mermaid...", with a smile.
Smiling happily, Ariel grabbed his hand to be on her breasts, whispering, "You're gorgeously handsome, my sailor prince. I'm ready, Eric.", her other hand tugging his organ closer.
Eric nodded his head as he slowly trusted his hips forward before his member slowly started to make its way into her narrow opening. Both of them suddenly felt waves of pleasure hit them as Eric was barely in her at this point.
Ariel cried out in pleasure as Eric gasped out in pleasure, soon moaning as Ariel begged Eric, "Touch me, fill me!", and Eric went to caress and squeeze her breasts in his hands as he moved closer into her, shocked to feel so tight yet so good within her narrow vent opening, groans and gasps filling the grotto.
As mermaids have no hymn wall thanks to being half fish, Eric only kept going as Ariel cried out in pleasure repeatedly, gasping as her breasts were squeezed, and shouted in surprise when Eric found her G-spot minutes later, "Yes, Eric!", as Eric is finally up to full hilt, filling her all the way in.
Somehow following merman instincts Eric didn't realize that he had, he wrapped his tail tighter around her tail as he moved his hips up and down instead of back and forth for humans, causing more friction between scales, and more pleasure to shoot up through them.
They both moaned at the feelings they were sharing together. Eric continued his thrusts as he was slowly starting to get a good rhythm going finally.
Ariel looked at him with so much love and happiness, "You make me so complete, Eric. I never want this moment to end.", and Eric smiled, "I would never see my life the same again after meeting you, and now, you are my soulmate...", as he kept thrusting.
The two lovers were in the throes of ecstasy as Eric continued to thrust, faster and faster as he was slowly starting to reach his limit after a few moments, though a dream, who knows how long it actually was.
Ariel cried out in pleasure as Eric met her G-spot repeatedly, "I'm getting close, Eric!", and Eric nodded, "Me too, Ariel!", going harder and faster than before.
After two minutes, Ariel screamed out in pleasure, "Eric!", her orgasm going through her in levels of ecstasy she never knew before, as Eric came, shouting in pleasure, filling her, "Ariel!".
Eric and Ariel panted heavily as Eric held her, collapsing into their sides, kissing passionately for a long moment before Eric smiled, "I love you, Ariel...", and Ariel smiled back at him, "I love you too, Eric...", their tails intertwined as they relaxed.
They managed to make love again for a second round, up in the water a couple hours later, in the empty Catfish Club, with music around them, and the dream ended as soon as the sun rose, with Eric discovering that he had a mess in his pants, proof that he did make love to his little mermaid in their dreams.
Luckily, he had extra clothes he was given by the villagers and went to clean himself somewhere else before heading back into the cove for breakfast. He saw Ariel swimming, and Ariel saw him, smiling before she took a seat on the shoreline, her vocals warming up before she started singing.
What would I give
To live where you are?
What would I pay
To stay here beside you?
What would I do to see you
Smiling at me?
Where would we walk?
Where would we run?
If we could stay all day in the sun
Just you and me
Eric listened every second as he let her continue. He could tell the pain that could be heard in the words, about how they would part ways. It was pain that he was feeling himself, and certainly for more reasons as things the past few days were finally clicking... like how Ariel is practically a solution to his marriage problem could be. Of course, the major issue being of him a human and her a mermaid, princess to a kingdom that the rest of the world didn't know or would refuse to believe.
'And I could be part of your world...', Ariel trailed off with her song as she clearly was finished before Eric walked over to her. "That... that was beautiful.", Eric told her as she gave a small smile.
"Something I just sort of came up.", Ariel said. Eric smiled softly, "Of course...Inspiration always finds a way to appear to us in moments of emotion.", sitting down beside her, "I will miss you so much beyond belief, Ariel...", holding her hands.
Ariel nodded, looking at him so tenderly yet intensely, "I will miss you very much beyond imagination, Eric.", and Eric let go of one hand, touching her chin lovingly, "I love you with all my heart, Princess Ariel of Atlantica.", before leaning in and kissing her for the first time in real life.
Ariel's eyes widened as she was in the kiss with Eric. Everything stopped almost all at once. Despite the dreams... this felt different... better. Ariel closed her eyes, broke his handholding and wrapped her arms around Eric tight as she went into the kiss. The two of them locked lips for a good thirty seconds before Eric finally broke the kiss to get some air.
"It's not fair...", Ariel sniffled. The reality of the situation had just hit her all at once this morning.
Eric nodded, "I know...Just know that I'll be around to listen, to be there...I know you, Ariel...You are stubborn.", and Ariel giggled gently before looking at him, "I love you with all my heart, Prince Eric of Truilla.", kissing him shortly yet bittersweetly before breaking away with tears falling.
She smiled tearfully to Max as he whined, walking over, his fur being ruffled gently, "Take care of him, okay, Max?", and Max gave a little bark, and Ariel kissed him on the snout before looking at Eric, her voice breaking, "Goodbye, Eric.", before slipping into the water, and resurfacing as Eric looked at her longingly, "Goodbye, Ariel...", as Ariel then disappeared into the water, going through the canal to the sea, their hearts hurting so badly.
Ariel barely managed to find some traveling dolphins, asking them for directions to Atlantica, and with a heavy sigh, she swam on, with a bit of joy that she's coming home, yet heartbroken, feeling empty without Eric.
Eric, in the meantime, headed back to the village of Othonoi, same name as the island, he learned. Once he reached it, there was the large ship, offloading and loading what cargo that come. Obviously loading more than offloading. He soon reached the dock where Menelaos was waiting for him.
"My friend... I was worried you wouldn't come.", He said as Eric sighed. "Sorry, woke up a little late and took a bit long with breakfast. Are we all good?", Eric asked.
"The captain says you're welcome to come aboard and will take you back to your home." Menelaos told him. Eric smiled gratefully at him, "Thanks, Menelaos.", before ruffling Max's fur, "Come on, boy, we're going home.", and bid Menelaos goodbye, and went abroad the ship.
"I hope she isn't in too much trouble, Max.", Eric replied, and Max barked softly, whuffing lightly as Eric ruffled his fur again.
"Yeah... I know... she'll probably be in hot water for sure... but at least being alive might be enough for Triton. And hopefully we'll be on land again before that.", Eric sighed as he rubbed Max's head as the ship soon started to set sail.
Ariel, grateful for her reliance on her tail's speed, made it to Atlantica under a day, and she exhaled as she saw the city in the distance, glistening and beautiful, whispering, "May Poseidon give me some strength.", before swimming onwards.
It certainly was a long journey but at least she made it before night truly fell and she didn't have any trouble along the way. Then there were, of course, a few dolphins she was familiar with who quickly spread the word way on ahead so hopefully the news that she is turning up alive wouldn't freak her family out.
"Ariel!", Ariel turned to see Flounder swimming right towards her as fast as possible. Ariel smiled brightly, "Flounder!", her arms outstretched, and Flounder swam into her, twirling around, "It's you, it's you, Ariel! You're alive! You're okay!".
"I missed you too, Flounder!", Ariel laughed happily as they hugged each other, and Flounder smiled happily, "Where have you been, Ariel?! We missed you so much!".
Ariel smiled reassuringly, "I'm okay, Flounder! I'm perfectly fine! And as for where I was, can you wait until I tell you and the others altogether, okay?", and Flounder nodded, "Okay...Your sisters have been looking around everywhere, and your dad...he's really wrought out...Sebastian is exhausted with everything.".
Looking a bit concerned, Ariel replied, "Let's go, Flounder, it's time for me to go home.", having thought of telling some of the truth, but lying that Eric is a nomad merman, having rescued her...It's technically true as Eric rescued her from getting infected with the glass and that Eric was a merman in their dreams together...
Then again... maybe it may just be easier to tell part of the truth; for instance, Sebastian probably already told her father about the ship. Maybe if Ariel admitted that she tried to save a trapped sailor and didn't make, it might not be so bad. Surely, Triton wouldn't be too upset at Ariel trying to save a life, even if it was a human.
But then again, Ariel literally was in close contact with humans on the ship, hiding, sure, but still, it was beyond breaking Triton's rules about going to the surface.
Ariel sighed as she swam with Flounder for a bit before sending him back on his way since it was a personal reunion after all, Ariel was right outside Triton's throne and from the looks of things, her sisters probably were with him too since it seemed everyone knew that she was back.
Ariel took a deep breath, and swam into the throne room, a smile coming to her face as she saw her elder sisters swimming towards her, "Ariel! Baby sister! We thought you're dead!", six flashes of color as they hugged and crowded around her, and Ariel sobbed happily, smiling, hugging all of them, "Attina, Alana, Arista, Aquata, Adella, Andrina!".
It was almost a chaotic mess of questions and tearful crying that Ariel was almost surprised that she could make out before eventually there was a loud throat clearing which caused everything to quiet down as all attention went over to Triton. "H-Hey, Daddy...", Ariel said as she was honestly worried at the moment if Triton was going to either unleash rage against her or actually be a good father and be happy at her return.
Triton sighed deeply as he planted his trident in his stand, and then held out his arms, "Where's my hug, daughter?", and Ariel swam instantly, crying out, "Daddy!", hugging him as Triton hugged her tightly.
"I'm so glad you're safe, Ariel.", Triton spoke softly, and Ariel spoke, "I missed you, Daddy.", smiling happily as she felt his familiar fatherly strength.
Triton breathed shakily, "I missed you too, Ariel.", before pulling back to look at her, "But you shouldn't have been on the surface in the first place. If it was a normal storm, you should have been fine, but when I found you missing from your room, young lady, you were on that ship, saving a human! A bird told Sebastian, and when he told me, I wasn't amused!", his eyes sharp and stern.
"I'm sorry, Daddy, but I wasn't one for leaving anyone behind, even a human. What if he had a family waiting for him on the mainland?! I...I really tried...but I got hurt in the process, and when I came to, he was dead, and I couldn't move my tail at all...", Ariel sighed heavily.