"Ariel...", Eric muttered as he rolled out of his bed. It was actually late at night; Ursula was showing an image of Eric earlier in the day since it was hard to tell night from day around Ursula's territory. He ran towards the balcony and looked out at the moonlit sea, knowing that something was wrong.
Ariel was wrapped in a bright aura as her body was shifting and changing thanks to Ursula's magic; her fins, her whole biology changing as the fins began to part and become legs. And poor Ariel was awake for every moment as it felt like she was being torn in half almost; a pain she had never remotely experienced. Even her earlier injuries were nothing compared to it.
Flounder and Sebastian, having followed behind, is watching in horror and terror, afraid for their friend, wide-eyed as the bright aura flashed wildly as Ariel's fins finally parted, with the tail receding back into skin, scales disappearing, giving way to legs, with the bright aura breaking open as Ariel was almost completely exhausted, she tried to move and swim before losing balance, closing her mouth as she realized that she couldn't breathe underwater.
Flounder and Sebastian swam fast, catching her by her arms as Ursula cackled in the background, as Ariel tried to hold on to the air in her lungs, terrified and scared, and then finally, she broke the surface, breathing out deeply as she exhaled and inhaled in the night air, with the boys stroking through the surface, helping her get to the shore as she is exhausted and sore.
The transformation took so much out of her to the point that she wasn't sure she was even going to make it. She was so tired, barely registering her new legs as she felt exhaustion striking her fast before she closed her eyes.
"Hurry, lad! We need to get her ashore!", Sebastian informed Flounder as the two of them were trying to keep Ariel's head above water. "It's a good distance to that human kingdom... might be morning by the time we reach it. Think you can keep her head above the water?".
"For her, I'll carry her across all the oceans if I have to...", Flounder declared as Sebastian gave a small smile, "Good lad.".
And so, with a few hours, since Flounder and Sebastian was smaller and slower than a mermaid, they made it around dawn, panting heavily as they arrived in the shallows, resting Ariel against a sandy rock.
They rested an hour before they saw Ariel waking up, and Ariel sighed silently, wiping her hair out of her eyes as she woke up slowly, trying to make sense of things before her eyes widened in shock as she stared at her legs, lifting a leg up before smiling as she wiggled her toes and foot, a silent laugh escaping her.
"Ariel! Is that you, sweetie?! Ariel!", laughed a familiar voice, and Ariel looked up to see Scuttle flying down and in a swoop before landing on a rock, "Been ages since I saw you! There's something off about ya.".
Flounder replied, "She got legs, Scuttle!", as Ariel tried to stand up for the first time, trying to remember how Eric did this before noticing a bush of red hair, and she blinked in slight confusion as she went to touch it, gasping as she felt a familiar sensation, and realized that this is her maidenhood! She is truly human...a human woman...
A smile came to her face as she tried to take a step and fell back into the water with a splash over the chattering animals. Okay, she might need a bit more practice.
"Guess it's not as easy as it looks.", Flounder winced as Ariel gave a silent sigh and realized she was also missing her shells; leaving her completely naked as Eric had described to her once.
"I don't know, those humans seem like they've got it all down.", Scuttle scratched his head. "Uh, this isn't normal for you, is it?", he asked Ariel as she tried to speak but as expected, nothing.
"No, she sold her voice to the sea witch for legs.", Sebastian shook his head. "And what was that deal? Three days for true love's kiss from that prince? Oh, Poseidon, your father will crack me open when I tell him-". Ariel quickly grabbed him and gave him an angry look. "Don't you dare give me that look, young lady! You're the one who put yourself in this position! Look, maybe there's still some time, we go back and undo everything with that witch, get your voice back and then...". Ariel had a grin on her face. "Girl... what is with that smile? Do you know something that I don't know?".
Ariel nodded, and Flounder snickered, "For once, you're out of the loop, Sebastian.", and Sebastian looked confused, "Explanation, please.".
Shaking her head at Flounder who shrugged, "I think you should wait, see, and find out soon enough.", and Ariel smiled as she then lowered Sebastian down, and started to practice slowly, but eventually getting the hang of it, though she still is clumsy here and there, not used to gravity and such.
"Well, looks like it's up to me, then. If you want to walk on the beach, you gotta dress up without anyone freaking out.", Scuttle grinned as he then flew on, landing on the shore, finding some fabric from some wrecked remains of a boat.
Meanwhile, Eric sighed deeply, closer to the palace, walking as Max barked worriedly, and Eric replied, "I hope Ariel is okay...I had never felt so much pain, if it was only an echo inside me...Do you think she got hurt?".
Max whined softly, and Eric said, "Yeah...I wish I knew since she wasn't there in our dreams last night...", and he kept walking slowly, lost in thought as Max followed him in concern before picking up a familiar scent in the soft wind. His eyes raised open as he sniffed deeply before smiling widely as he recognized his mistress's scent! His master's mate is back!
"Max?", Eric looked at the dog funny as he barked and started running towards the shoreline. "Hey, Max... where are you going?", he shouted as he tried to keep up with Max. Eric certainly was surprised as Max didn't usually act so excited unless it was for good reason... unless... "No... couldn't be...", a thought crossed Eric's mind, but he dismissed it as it wasn't likely. That he would follow Max all the way to Ariel...
Many minutes later, as Scuttle whistled appreciatively, "You look great for a shipwrecked girl, Ariel!", as Ariel grinned, showing off her figure as she wore the sails as a sort of dress, walking and silently giggling, as Flounder and Sebastian watched.
A bark sounded out in the distance, and Ariel looked up, wide-eyed as she smiled widely, recognizing that bark, and sure enough, Max came around the corner, barking and galloping towards her, with the others shrieking and hiding in the water or flying off.
Ariel kneeled down, and Max pounced into her, licking her face and yipping as Ariel silently giggled and laughed, hugging Max, as she realized that if Max is here, Eric couldn't be far behind.
"Max!", Ariel's heart skipped a beat when she heard Eric's voice. She quickly stood back up before Eric was turning a corner along the rocks which would allow the two lovers to finally see each other once more. "Max, where on Earth did you go, bo-", Eric came to a dead stop when he caught even the slightest glance of her. "A-Ariel...", his voice went deathly quiet as if he was seeing a ghost almost.
Ariel smiled so radiantly at him, starting to walk towards him happily as Eric gasped in shock, realizing that she's on legs...She got legs!
Starting to walk a bit faster, she lost balance, and Eric ran forward, catching her, "Whoa, easy! Ariel...", looking at her with amazement and disbelief, and Ariel gave a silent sob of joy as tears fell, hugging him so desperately, missing his warmth.
Eric was at a loss for words. Here she was... and on legs... like she was completely human now. "Ariel...", he whispered as he held her tight in the hug, his hand running through her hair. "Your hair's soaking wet...", he joked as Ariel rolled her eyes as she was continuing to sob. "I don't... I don't understand..., how are you...?", he clearly was having so many questions that she unfortunately didn't have the ability to answer.
Ariel kept hugging him, and Eric sighed deeply as he took in her familiar scent of the ocean, realizing that she's still the same, just with legs..."I missed you last night, Ariel...I guess this must be the cause of it...huh?".
Ariel slowly pulled back, tears still streaking down her face, and she nodded silently, and Eric frowned in concern as he knew that Ariel is usually chatty when she's excited or happy, "Ariel, are you okay? Can you talk?", and Ariel shook her head, opening her mouth to speak, and nothing.
"Hmm, does your throat hurt?", Eric asked softly, and Ariel shook her head again, and Eric blinked, "So, not sore throat, then...Well, let's get you cleaned up and get seen by the doctor.".
Ariel nodded and smiled... before taking him right into a hug again. "Hey, hey, I missed you so much too... but take it a bit easy right now... you're dressed in... is that a wrecked sailing canvas?", Eric asked in slight confusion.
Ariel nodded sheepishly, and Eric looked to be in thought, "Maybe this would work...Listen, I told Grimsby something you might need to keep up for me...I told him that you're a Greek commoner, and you being in a sailing canvas as a dress, provides you as a shipwrecked woman, escaping her father from the island...".
Ariel gave him a look that said 'Why?', and Eric sighed, "It was the best I did as I promised you that I wouldn't ever reveal your secret of being a mermaid or even a princess of royalty as Atlantica is a story too...Is that okay with you?".
Ariel thought about it for a moment before she quickly nodded and smiled. It pretty much was the truth in some ways, obviously.
"Okay, this will work then... of course... uh, the mute thing... that's, that's not permanent now, is it?", Eric asked as Ariel shook her head before she gave a silent giggle. "Okay, well, I better have some answers soon.". Ariel smiled and nodded, indicating she would give them to him, just not exactly now.
Eric smiled softly, "Let's go, then. Still can't believe it...You look wonderful with legs, Ariel.", helping her along, and Ariel blushed, smiling as she walked on, with Eric's assistance, heading for the palace as Max barked, prancing around them with a big smile.
"Okay, easy, Max, we're going, we're going!", Eric laughed as the other animals watched on. Sebastian was giving Flounder a look as the fish chuckled.
"What do you know, boy?", Sebastian whispered. "Let's just say that witch might have been a bit too confident in her deal.", Flounder told him.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow in curiosity, and looked up to see Eric helping Ariel, "Well, at least, Ariel was right... This Eric is a good human.", with a small smile.
"Now if only her dad could see it that way...", Flounder sighed before the duo started to swim away, with Scuttle informing them that he would keep an eye on Ariel for them.
"Easy, easy!", Eric shouted as he caught Ariel when she was struggling up the stairs. She had to sit down for a few moments to recover. "It's not as easy as it seems... takes babies quite a while before they finally can walk pretty straight.", Eric chuckled as Ariel blushed. Eric ran his hands along her legs as he smiled. "See... what did I tell you? No scars.", he reminded about her worries that the glass would cause scars, but like his dueling wound, it went away without leaving a permanent mark.
Ariel nodded with a smile, grateful, and gestured to Max with fingers pointing down and walked. Eric chuckled, "Dogs are lucky. They can walk pretty good about 5-6 weeks after birth.".
Ariel pouted, and Eric laughed heartily, "Don't worry, you'll be a natural at walking and more soon enough.", before leaning in and whispering, "Like I did in our dreams.", with a soft smirk.
Ariel went red faced as Eric gave a small chuckle. "Don't worry, I won't ask you to do that sort of thing tonight or anything. There's no need to rush this, right?", he asked as Ariel gave him a nod. Three days on the clock was nothing to her since she knew she would get true love's kiss from him soon.
Eric then gestured to the palace entrance, "You good to keep going?", and Ariel nodded firmly, slowly and carefully getting up, and started to walk more, with Eric close by, yet he smiled, knowing how stubborn and determined Ariel can be.
Soon, they got into the palace, with Eric calling for Grimsby and Carlotta, and said, "Carlotta will take care of you while I know Grimsby will see to arrange a late breakfast, and probably talk with me. I will be waiting when you're all dressed, okay?".
Ariel hugged him again as Eric laughed. "Okay, okay... Look, just leave the talking to the others to me for right now... rest your voice, right?", he raised an eyebrow as she nodded.
"Sir, you called for me?", Grimsby walked in to see Eric with Ariel. "Uh...", he clearly was surprised by the girl and her 'dress wear'.
"Grimsby. Uh, you're not gonna believe who washed ashore.", Eric chuckled sheepishly with a smile. Grimsby blinked in surprise before smiling gently, "Miss Ariel. I now see why Eric has been lovesick about.", and Ariel smiled brightly.
Eric smiled tenderly as he held her hand, "She somehow snuck away on a ship as a stowaway behind her father's back...You know that storm yesterday sometime around afternoon? I knew something was wrong, but when I saw her alive, shipwrecked, oh, Grimsby, you couldn't believe how relieved and shocked, and gods, so happy I was to see her smiling at me just like on our island. She swallowed some seawater when she got overboard, and her voice is resting for now.", with a nod.
"I see.", Grimsby pulled Eric a bit away from Ariel. "Are you sure she's Greek? She seems much more...", Eric gave him a look. "Irish, Scandinavian?".
"She's a unique girl, that's for certain, Grimsby.", Eric patted his shoulder. "But this is the girl I was telling you about.".
"You certainly weren't kidding about her hair.", Grimsby chuckled. Ariel blushed, and gestured to herself, and Eric nodded, "That's right. If you had met her father, she only got her ocean blue eyes from him, but the rest of her is from her mother who died unfortunately when she was fairly young to barely remember.".
Grimsby nodded, "Oh, I see, perhaps Greek with a lot of Irish...", and Ariel shrugged. Eric said, "Her father finds it difficult to say much about her mother as Ariel looks so much like her, so she has barely an idea of her heritage, only knowing about the island and such.".
"I see... poor girl... you mentioned before about her harsh father?", Grimsby asked as Eric nodded. "Well, maybe not harsh, but certainly extremely protective.", Eric said as Ariel mentally was agreeing with the former description. She was despising her father at this moment still after what he did.
Grimsby spoke warmly, "Well, either way, she has been invited to see the kingdom, but I believe she could need time to start smaller, say, a tour of the palace, after she gets cleaned up, and oh, how rude am I not to introduce myself! Miss Ariel, I am Grimsby, Prince Eric's friend and advisor. Would you like to join us for a late breakfast after getting cleaned up?".
Ariel nodded, smiling widely, rubbing her belly with a pout, and Eric laughed, "She's very hungry. Ask the chef to see about hearty meals, just no seafood, okay? She's not allergic but she prefers other food.".
"Alright then.", Grimsby nodded. "Of course, first things first, she needs some new clothes. That tarp looks like it's barely holding together on you.", Eric said as Ariel blushed.
"That's what I am here for, your majesty!", chuckled a warm, older female voice as Carlotta came over, "Oh, Eric, she's absolutely lovely!", and Ariel smiled happily.
Carlotta smiled gently, "Hello, Miss Ariel. I believe a bubble bath could be perfect for you. And your majesty, is it okay to pull clothes from storage?".
Eric smiled warmly, "You have my permission, Carlotta, and please be careful with her when she goes in the bath. She experienced going overboard and she also never saw a... well, luxurious bath before.", and Ariel nodded, so grateful that Eric cares for her so much, and is looking out for her.
"I'll certainly try my best there. Now come on, dear, let's get you all nice and cleaned up, get that horrible saltwater off of you!", Carlotta started to drag Ariel away as Eric smiled at her, reassuring her, "Don't worry, Ariel, once she's all finished, we can truly catch right back up!".