Ariel smiled and patted her chest to her heart before holding out a hand, and Eric held it for a moment, "Me too, Ariel.", lovingly kissing her knuckles as Ariel then blushed happily, and finally let Carlotta lead her away.
Grimsby spoke, "You really are smitten with her...it's been ages since I last saw you truly happy.", smiling softly. "I love her, Grimsby... she's my soulmate.", Eric told him.
"You're so certain of that...", Grimsby chuckled. "Well, when you're sort of stuck with someone for quite a period of time, you really get to know them... and Ariel... well, she's pretty much all I've ever wanted in a girl, she could say the same for me.", Eric sighed.
Grimsby chuckled warmly, "Looks like you have proved me wrong. You truly found true love without my help. Your parents would be so proud of you, Eric.", and Eric smiled genuinely happy, "Thanks, Grim, and you sort of helped me. If you hadn't informed me of Max's trouble, I wouldn't have never been on the island in the first place, and I would have been feeling so empty if I and Ariel hadn't found each other, and now...", with a nod.
"Well, hopefully we'll not have to do anything of that sort again. That hurricane was… we're lucky we managed to return. And it was good you came back so soon.", Grimsby said.
Eric smiled softly, "That I did...Well, I will be outside the dining hall to wait for Ariel.", and Grimsby nodded, "And I will talk with Chef Louis.", and so the men parted ways.
Eric looks around for Max, but nothing. He figured that Max went to sleep in his dog bed in Eric's bedroom. He sure had a long run this morning.
Chuckling, Eric went to settle besides the hallway to the dining hall, and fiddles with the flute from his back pocket, playing a bit of familiar music for a while before he heard Carlotta's voice, "Don't worry, dear, you look marvelous! Eric will be pleased.".
Eric stood up, looking to the corner, and his jaw dropped in awe as he saw about the most beautiful vision of his life, wearing his mother's old favorite dress...Did Ariel pick it because it belonged to his mother when Carlotta told her, or does she not know that?...His mother must be approving of his choice in Ariel...that means he got his parents' blessing...
Ariel certainly looked good in the lavish pink dress; Carlotta must have thought she needed something a bit extravagant today even though Ariel would look good in almost any simple dress that Carlotta could've picked.
"Wait, wait, my dear, you need some decent shoes at least to go under that.", Carlotta tried to drag her back, but Ariel clearly wasn't the most gung-ho of the idea.
Eric gave a smile as he walked up to them, "Ariel is stubborn when she needs to be, and besides, she has never been in a palace, so she wants to feel everything under her feet...She only has experienced sand, wood, and mud, but never a tile floor...", and Ariel nodded firmly.
Carlotta sighed grudgingly, "I suppose you have a point, Prince Eric, just convince her to wear shoes for walking outside and such, and for important things like ball dancing.".
Eric laughed warmly, "Can you do that, Ariel?", and Ariel looked at Carlotta with a smile and nod. "Alright then. I will see to what the servants are doing for Ariel's bedroom before I return with breakfast.", Carlotta accepted with a smile and left.
Eric then looked at Ariel with a deep, loving expression, "You look so beautiful, Ariel...I love you.", and Ariel looked at him with a bright smile, gesturing to his heart, "Yes, with all my heart, my little mermaid.", before taking up her chin in his hand, leaning in.
Ariel's eyes widened as Eric got closer. Was this... was this the kiss already, she wondered. Ariel closed her eyes and just waited for their lips to meet as Eric continued to lean in, once more wanting to feel the gentle touch of his love.
The couple finally met, their lips touching as they instantly wrapped their arms around each other, and Ariel felt incredibly reborn somehow, realizing that something is happening vaguely as she is too absorbed in the incredibly familiar yet new sensation of love...true love...
Of course, what was happening, was Ariel triumphing over Ursula; fulfilling her end of the magical contract. Ariel had received true love's kiss and her voice was being restored while her legs and her newfound 'humanity' is becoming permanent.
However, it was a complete shock to Ursula as she was trying to see how things were going since Flotsam and Jetsam couldn't see the two once they left the shore. But before she could even check her mirror, the conch around her neck that carried Ariel's voice suddenly glowed and burned against her skin before it exploded, freeing the voice and the aura quickly flew faster than the speed of light back to its original owner.
Ursula stared at the now cracked mirror in shock before rage quickly flew across her face. "That little...!", Ursula's fist smashed the mirror. "They tricked me! She and that prince of hers were a close as one could be!", she roared, shocked that even the short time together, true love had bloomed between the two of them.
Now Ursula's plans had completely collapsed. She now had no more control over Triton's youngest, and now she was mostly safe from her for the time being. But Ursula wasn't giving up, the girl bested her this round, but this war was far from over in her eyes. She would just need to rethink and come up with a better plan to usurp Triton's control through Ariel. But if there was one thing Ursula was good at, it was coming up with a plan.
Meanwhile, in the palace, as the couple were finally finishing their first kiss as humans together, they heard a song in the air, and Eric widened his eyes as a golden orb flashed through the window like nothing, and flowed into Ariel's throat as Ariel is soon able to sing and talk, tears falling in joy as she spoke happily, "Eric! Oh, I love you too, with all my heart, my sailor prince.", smiling radiantly.
"What... what just happened?", Eric pointed to the window, the trail of the orb and then her throat as he clearly was confused as Ariel chuckled.
"Sorry... I... I think I have quite a bit of explaining to do. But...", Ariel started to sob. "I... I have legs... I can keep them... and I can be with you for the rest of our lives!", she sobbed with joy as she wrapped herself around him again and kissed him on the lips once more.
Eric smiled, accepting that as he gladly kissed her back...For the rest of their lives together, sounds perfect... "Do you accept to be courted by me?", Eric whispered lovingly.
"I'd be more than happy to be courted by you.", Ariel whispered right back as the two continued their embrace for a few moments before the sound of a stomach growling echoed.
"Eh, sorry... I guess we're missing breakfast right now.", Eric chuckled as Ariel laughed, "Honestly, I'm starving too... I really can't wait to have fruit again!".
Eric smiled tenderly and warmly, "Shall we?", offering his arm, and Ariel giggled, "Of course.", taking his arm in her hand, and after a bit of thought to clean the tears, the couple walked into the dining hall through the opening doors.
The meals were already prepared for them though the room was empty; Grimsby obviously thought it best to give the two of them some privacy, which certainly was needed considering Ariel had much to tell.
"Well, I hope you'll certainly love what we have... not exactly all the same things we had back on Othonoi.", Eric told her as she smiled and sat down when Eric motioned her to take a seat near his.
"It's fine... whatever you have, I'll enjoy it. So long as it isn't seafood.", Ariel blushed as Eric rubbed his neck, "Of course. I wouldn't be a good man for you if I ignored that wish of yours.".
Ariel smiled, "And I am grateful for that. And I won't force Grimsby or the rest of the staff to give up seafood, just not when I am in the same room or something...", and Eric nodded, "A respectful compromise there.", before removing his tray top to reveal an omelet, a fruit parfait, and some toast.
"Chef Louis has done well!", Eric chuckled as he sipped his cup of milk as Ariel removed her tray top, the same meal steaming warmly. "What's that brown stuff?", Ariel asked.
"Toast.", Eric chuckled. "Baked bread.", he explained as Ariel nodded. "Right... that flour wheat stuff you were telling me.", Ariel said as she grabbed the toast and took a bite. "Crunchy..."
"Depends on how you want it... well done or still fairly soft.", Eric told her. Ariel nodded, "I might want to try all the levels of bread before finding a favorite, but this is pretty good.".
Eric smiled, "Great. The yellow food is omelets. Made from unfertilized chicken eggs, so there's no harm there, along with usually cheese, some sort of meat from one of the local farms, and sometimes some sort of cream on top.".
"Certainly quite the choices we have...", Ariel smirked as Eric chuckled, "The perks of royalty, I guess.".
Both of them started to eat while conversing with each other, though obviously Eric's questions would be at the start of it all. "So, um, Ariel... I... how are you even here... with legs? And what was all that light stuff and your voice?".
Ariel sighed deeply, "Well, to start, Flounder was taking me to the grotto as he said he had a surprise for me, a human thing he found weeks ago, and boy, I was surprised and happy because the surprise was your statue, your birthday gift from the ship... it somehow was intact...".
"Seriously?", Eric was surprised to hear that. "It survived?".
"Well, where else was it going to go, Eric, if it sinks into the sea?", Ariel chuckled as Eric nodded in a 'oh duh' motion. "I was surprised that Flounder was able to bring it to my grotto though... but... well, Daddy found out.".
Eric exhaled sharply, "I knew it. I felt your emotions yesterday. He destroyed the statue?". Ariel spoke quietly yet angrily, "Not just the statue...he destroyed everything... all the things I held preciously, my collection...", with a sob.
"Ariel... I'm sorry...", Eric apologized for her even if nothing was his fault. "It's alright...", Ariel quickly tried to regain her composure.
"He found out about us too... I admitted it to him that we were soulmates... he didn't want me to die by trying to keep us fully apart but weaken it until it could be broken by basically forgetting everything about the surface.", Ariel replied quietly.
"By Jesus Christ...", Eric whispered in horror...His dreams with her as a merman was the best thing to happen to him, next to making love underwater and having adventures...
Ariel nodded, "I was heartbroken, grieving, and I hated Daddy...I don't...right now, but I am angry at him still...Anyhow, I was approached by two eels who was representing the infamous, banished sea witch, Ursula...".
"Oh, Ariel...", Eric gasped softly as he was told about Ursula a few nights ago after Ariel told him about her sisters' discovery of...ah, their activities.
"I was deeply upset... and just... desperate. They told me that she could help, and I just thought to throw caution to the currents and go to her.", Ariel explained.
"And?", Eric inquired quietly. "Well... she certainly had reasons why she was banished and why few ventured to her waters. I found... what happened to others who went to her for help...", Ariel looked away, still deeply disturbed by her discovery.
Eric reached over to grasp her hand softly and asked gently, "Is it bad?", and Ariel nodded, "More than bad...The others who lost their side of their deals...they got turned into polyp-like creatures...".
"Oh, by the gods...", Eric exhaled in horror, "And you're here... You...traded your voice for legs...for us to be together... I woke up in the middle of the night when I felt something happening to you...".
Ariel nodded. "Ursula wanted my voice in exchange for me to have legs... to be human... to be on the surface. Of course, I only had three days to do this... to get a kiss of true love from you to make it permanent and not end up like those creatures.".
Eric chuckled, "Looks like she has misjudged things then as I love you truly, Ariel, and will always do.", squeezing her hand lovingly with a smile.
"And I am glad of that...To be honest, if we hadn't been on the island, and grew our relationship properly, three days would have been a bit impossible...", Ariel sighed deeply.
"Plus, without your voice too.", Eric pointed out as Ariel nodded. "Then again... I suppose you could write stuff down.".
"Part of me thinks that still wouldn't work. She said it was true love's kiss. Is that enough time in three days?", Ariel asked.
"I see your point as this Ursula would have possibly made your writing unreadable when you would try to explain about the deal...", Eric nodded thoughtfully.
Ariel nodded, "She has powers, Eric...I am safe now, yet I am afraid that she might find some way to win even if I did my side of the deal perfectly...She's the type of person who doesn't like to lose, Eric, and that's one of the worst types of people ever...", sounding like she's scared from the tone of her voice.
"Listen, Ariel.. trust me when I say, you'll be safe with me... I'll die before I let her hurt you.", Eric held her hands tight as he tried to promise her.
"I fear Ursula will take you up on that.", Ariel admitted as Eric nodded, "I understand, but I'd promise you that I'll will protect you from her with my life.".
Ariel moved to hug him with a sob, "If only Daddy would see this...He would understand that you're a good man, a good human being...", and Eric shushed her gently, rubbing her back, "I know, I know, Ariel...everything will be all right. Come, let's finish breakfast before it gets too cold, and then I will show you everything through the palace today...An adventure, what do you say?".
Ariel looked up at him with a growing smile, "I'd love to see the whole palace, Eric...Yes, let's finish breakfast.". The two of them enjoyed their meal, quietly chatting about more normal things and what little things had happened between their separation for a time before Eric started to show Ariel around the palace.
Sebastian and Flounder was surprisingly delighted when they heard the news from Scuttle when he landed for some food from Ariel, talking and laughing, and they were happy for Ariel as they heard that the couple is now in a courtship properly.
After exploring the palace with new eyes that Eric saw as Ariel delighted in discovering things here and there, with some time playing with Max, and getting to know Grimsby and Carlotta, it was a long yet content day, and they went to sleep, and to their surprise, their dreams changed, for they're on the island, with them as humans, and Ariel was excited to see what Eric saw on the island while having some time to make out in their cove.
Meanwhile, back in Atlantica, King Triton sighed heavily as he looked out one of the open-water windows in his throne room, looking wearily, and his royal messenger seahorse darted in, with Triton looking at Horace, the seahorse, in anxiety, "Have the patrols found anything?".
"Nothing yet, your majesty.", the seahorse informed with a tinge of regret in his voice. All could tell the sudden weight of Triton's concerns and fears returning once again, like they had when she had vanished for a month before. "If she indeed swam away from Atlantica, someone must have at least seen her.".
"Sebastian? What about him?", Triton asked as the seahorse straightened up. "Sebastian and that small fish that commonly accompanied the princess were seen near the mainland.", the seahorse responded as Triton looked at the horse with both concern and surprise.
"Bring them both to me... I think I know where Ariel has gone to.", Triton took a deep breath, ordering firmly as he frowned with a pained expression.
The seahorse bowed, "Yes, sire. I will do my best to find them and bring them to you.", before leaving and swimming off, and Triton sighed heavily as he returned to his throne, sitting down and resting his head in his hand, "Oh, Poseidon, what have I done?".
"Do you honestly think we should keep sticking around here?", Flounder asked as he and Sebastian were once more in the little out cove where Ariel had first made landfall and where Eric had found her. The two of them, while relying on Scuttle to keep them informed with what was going on in the palace, or at least best with what he could see; the crab still didn't feel conformable going back to Atlantica,
"I don't know, lad. Part of me thinks maybe we should head back home, leave Ariel where she is, let her enjoy her new life and her man in peace... but part of me still feels something off about this whole thing. It's fishy, boy.", Sebastian said as the fish gave him a look. "No offense."
"I don't get what you're worried about, she easily did what that sea witch told her she had to do; obviously stuck one up on that hag!", Flounder laughed.