Meanwhile, Eric was swimming furiously, dodging the multiple ships when he saw Ursula blasting at something when he realized that it was Ariel she was shooting at, and he gasped in horror, thinking furiously before he saw the pirate ship incoming, and he dived, dodging, scrambling before he saw a rope, and grabbed it.
Ursula kept shooting, and Ariel was getting exhausted, with pain filling her body every time she moved, and in one of the dodges, Ursula caught her, blasting her off the ground like a cannonball, and Ariel landed against a rock, a shock running up her tail as she felt little bones break, blood leaking out, and she felt life slowly leaving her.
She weakly looked up at Ursula with eyes full of fear yet determination, and Ursula laughed, "Too much for true love!", and Ariel whispered softly, with memories of Eric running through her mind, "I love you, Eric.", wishing to be in his arms one last time as she felt she couldn't hold on anymore...
While at that same time, Eric, unaware of Ariel's critical injuries, was climbing his way back onto the pirate ship, most of the crew just hanging on like crazy as Eric made his way back onto the deck. He quickly noticed the front of the ship, damaged from the Patrona's attack and realized it would make a good spear.
He rushed towards the ship's wheel, quickly stealing a sword from one of the undead pirates and then slashing the head off the captain when he realized that Eric was onboard and coming towards him, but not fast enough to pull out his own blade. Eric soon pushed the corpse away and tightened his grip on the wheel as the ship soon began to swing around the whirlpool. Ursula soon laughed, saying those same words about true love when Eric made one last twist of the wheel and before Ursula knew it... the ship impaled her in the belly with a sudden massive strike of lightning hitting her as almost good measure.
Ursula screamed, seeing the face of Eric as he spat, "Go to hell, monster!", as she tried to bring down the pirate ship, with Eric running and diving off the ship as Ursula drowned, becoming smaller and smaller as she went down and down, with so much lightning power killing her off, flashing the sky as the waves settled down slowly, with the whirlpool disappearing away, with the wrecked ships falling down back to the seafloor.
Sebastian and Flounder averted their eyes, and saw Eric swimming away, and realized that Ariel is missing, and Sebastian gasped, "We gotta find her, Flounder!", climbing into Flounder's back, and Flounder swam under the sea, searching for Ariel everywhere, having seen what Ursula had been doing before Flounder saw a familiar head of red hair, "Over there!", swimming fast before their eyes widened in horror, seeing the state of Ariel.
Flounder nudged Ariel, "Ariel, Ariel!", as Sebastian called out, "Wake up, lass!", but nothing, and Sebastian realized that she was dying, and spoke to Flounder, "We have to get her to Eric...", his voice breaking.
Flounder sobbed, nodding, and they picked Ariel up by her arms, going to Eric as the death of Ursula broke all dark magic on everything near and far; the polyps turning back to human, the undead pirates now dead complete for good, and Triton turning back to normal, regaining his crown and trident.
Ariel, meanwhile, on the verge of life and death, could only start to hear a familiar song, but not sung by her. Ariel's eyes began to open, only to see that the world around her was white. Ariel sat up, only to realize that she didn't have her fins, but rather her legs again.
She somehow doesn't feel pain anymore in this strange world, and she hears the song, exhaling as it's familiar to her and the rest of her family, and gets up, walking on, calling out, "H-Hello?", as she is wearing her favorite dress, the casual blue dress.
As the song gets louder and louder, Ariel's heart beats faster, as the voice behind is getting really familiar, and then, she sees someone on a rock in the distance, becoming more visible, and Ariel gasps, seeing a near look-alike mermaid, except that the tail is aqua blue, and the eyes are light green, and the red hair is a tad darker and muted...
The mermaid smiles at Ariel motherly-like as she finishes the song, and speaks, "Hello, my baby girl.", and Ariel whispers, "Mama?", the name she called Athena when she was 3 as she wasn't able to say 'Mother' until years later.
The mermaid nodded as her smile grows, "Yes, Ariel. Come give your mother a hug.", reaching out her arms, and Ariel sobbed, "Mother!", running and finally reaching her, hugging Athena with a feeling she realized she missed so much...the feeling of a mother holding her in her arms.
Meanwhile, as Eric was climbing into the side lifeboat next to the Patrona, one of the crew on the ship called out as he looked through the looking glass, "Something's coming! I see red...Wait, is that a fish and crab carrying someone?!".
"Flounder! Sebastian!", Eric called out before he saw who they were carrying, and Eric just went cold and fell backwards in the lifeboat. The two animals helped carry Ariel into it before Eric quickly recovered and wrapped his arms tight around Ariel. "Ariel... no...", Eric whispered as his heart was completely shattered.
"Oh, my baby...", Athena whispered as she held Ariel in her arms. "Look how much you've grown.".
Ariel smiled tearfully, "I missed you, Mama...", giving out a sob, and Athena smiled, "I know, Ariel...I missed you too...But luckily, I watched you, your father, and all your sisters...I'm so proud of you following your dreams...speaking of dreams, I'm happy that you have found a good human...Admittedly, I was surprised, but as I have been friends with his parents, somehow you and Eric fit so well together...".
Ariel looked at her in surprise and happiness, "You..you don't mind that I'm in love with a human prince, and that I... wanted to be on the surface, to do all those human things with him?".
"Ariel... your father wouldn't have had as many issues with humans if not for Ursula and what happened to me... but then again, you might not have ever met Eric...", Athena pointed out. "Ariel, I couldn't be happier for you whether it was a merman or human, you followed your heart and found the one who matched it.".
Ariel smiled widely, "Thank you, Mama!", hugging her happily as she then sobbed softly, realizing something, "I'm dead, aren't I?".
"No, darling, you are not, but on the verge of death...That's why you are here in limbo...", Athena explained gently, and Ariel pulled back in surprise to look at Athena who kept talking, "Yes. Listen hard...Can you hear him?".
Ariel blinked in confusion, listening hard before gasping, hearing Eric's faint voice amongst sobs and quaking cries.
Eric held Ariel reverently, kissing her lips, her face, sobbing, "Please, don't leave me alone, Ariel...I planned so much for us...I was going to ask you to marry me...I want to be a wonderful husband...I want to give you everything...raising a family...seeing you carrying our children...to grow together as king and queen, growing old...giving you all my heart...I love you so much, my little mermaid...", barely noticing the water churning next to the lifeboat, with Triton resurfacing...
"Ariel...", Triton gasped as he saw Eric clutching her. "I'm sorry... I... couldn't stay with her...", Eric sobbed as he tried to apologize.
"He... he can't be left like that...", Ariel whispered as Athena nodded. "It's up to you, of course, if you really want to go back.", Athena told her.
Ariel nodded firmly, "I really do, Mother!", and Athena smiled warmly, "I knew you would...Stubborn like your father.", and Ariel looked at her in surprise, and Athena chuckled, "I may have given you my headstrong rebellious side, but your stubbornness came from dear Triton...", with a fond, sad smile.
Triton exhaled shakily, "No...", before looking at his trident, and looked at Eric, "I won't harm you or her, I can save her...I gotta try...", and Eric sobbed, looking at him, "Please try, sir! I can't...I can't lose her...".
Triton saw himself in Eric, with Ariel as Athena, remembering those moments that night he found her body, and realized that Eric truly has a lot in common with him, and nodded, his trident glowing a gentle yellow gold, resting it softly on Ariel's tail, and muttered a prayer as he focused on Ariel.
Ariel can feel something happening, "What's going on?", and Athena smiled, "Triton's healing you, and if I am right, also changing you to human as you should be...He truly has accepted that you and Eric belong together...I will see you again, but not for a long, long time.".
Giving a sob as she hugged Athena, "I love you, Mama!", and Athena kissed her forehead tenderly and affectionately, rubbing her back motherly-like, "I love you, Ariel...Tell Triton and your sisters that I love them as well, okay?".
Ariel nodded furiously, "I will, Mother...", and Athena started to disappear with a warm smile, "And oh, tell Eric that his parents are proud of him, and they love him so much as well.", and Ariel smiled tearfully, holding Athena's hand tightly for a moment, and Athena whispered, "Good-bye, my baby girl.", before completely vanishing into the white sky.
"Good-bye, Mama.", Ariel whispered, and then the white world became black, hearing Eric's voice, and she smiled, starting to run, and then nothing. Eric sobbed lightly as Ariel was completely healed, and back to human, in a sparkly blue dress, waiting for a sign, "Please, Ariel...please come back to me...", holding her as he buried his face in her hair.
"Eric...", Ariel whispered as she was slowly returning to consciousness. "Ariel...?", Eric lightened his grip a bit as he leaned back a bit.
Ariel opened her ocean blue eyes, and smiled brightly, "Oh, Eric!", tears falling as she hugged him right back, and Eric laughed happily, "Ariel!", kissing her all over her face, tears falling down his face as he finally kissed her on the lips, which felt like forever since the moments in the lagoon.
Faint cheers ringed through the air as Ariel pulled back, and smiled softly, "Yes.", and Eric blinked, "Pardon?", and Ariel smiled a bit bigger, "I will marry you, Eric.".
"You... you heard that?", Eric gave a small chuckle as Ariel nodded. She then looked to Triton and smiled. "Mother says 'Hi', Daddy.", Ariel told him.
Triton widened his eyes in shock as tears came to his eyes, "You saw Athena?", and Ariel nodded, smiling, "She was sad for you all those years, hating humans, and then she was proud of you when you changed your mind...She loves you, Daddy.".
Triton teared up as he leaned forward to take her into a hug, one that she gladly accepted, "I'm so sorry, Ariel... I let my anger and loss blind me from the truth... that there are good humans. One of whom who has proven that they're the right one for you.". He looked to Eric, "Prince Eric... you have my blessing to marry Ariel... and... if it'll be alright, let her come to visit Atlantica again...".
Eric smiled softly, "Thank you, sir, and I never liked to see Ariel sad, so she can visit Atlantica anytime she wants, and I'd be glad to join her if I can. After all, a home is who you're with, not a place.", with a nod as he looked at Ariel with love and joy who smiled so brightly, taking his hand happily.
Ariel leaned forward and kissed Eric on the lips as she started to tear up, "I'm sorry, I'm just... it's a lot to take in.", with a soft half smile. "I'll say, after all that just happened...", Eric sighed as he leaned his head back. "I'm exhausted...".
Triton nodded, "Yes, such an eventual day, but much joy and relief for all of Atlantica and the surface. Ursula won't trouble us ever again.", and Ariel then gasped softly, "The pirates? They're dead?".
Eric smiled, "Yes, everything's alright.", and Ariel gave a sob of relief, "Thank Poseidon...They confessed to me that they killed Mother...They were the ones you hanged, Eric.".
Triton narrowed his eyes, "I see. Good for them that they're dead.", with an exhale of relief, and Eric nodded, "Agreed. Come, Ariel, let's get you up on deck, and we will head back to Trulia.".
"Yes, Grimsby and Carlotta are probably worried out of their minds.", Ariel sighed heavily, and hugged Triton again, "I love you, Daddy. I forgive you for everything.". Triton kissed her on the forehead, "I love you too, Ariel. That means a lot.", before pulling back with a gentle smile, "I better gather everyone under the sea, and head back to Atlantica. Have Flounder or Sebastian come inform me of the date and time for the wedding.".
"We will, Daddy...", Ariel smiled as she wiggled her legs. "I think I like getting my legs from you better.", she teased. "Ursula's dark magic made it hurt...".
"Knowing that witch, that was probably the point.", Eric said. "But she's gone now, she'll never bother us again.".
Ariel nodded, and Triton chuckled as Sebastian followed him, "See you soon, Ariel.", before heading down into the sea, and Flounder smiled, "Congratulations, Ariel. I'll see you in a while.", waving a fin at Eric, before swimming back into the sea.
Eric smiled, "You sure got some loyal friends, Ariel.", and Ariel giggled softly, "I know.", before sighing deeply, "Let's go.".
And so, after heading up into the deck, with a couple of introductions, the couple soon headed to one of the rooms below deck, taking some rest while holding each other, as the ship, and its neighbor ship headed home for Truila.
The ships returned to the harbor, much to the surprise of many who saw the ships pretty much without a scratch. And then of course, there was the palace when Eric arrived with Ariel before Grimsby and Carlotta met with them. Carlotta was the most excited as she quickly hugged Ariel.
"Oh, sweetie... you're alright!", Carlotta was nearly crying.
Ariel hugged her happily, "I'm so relieved to see you, Carlotta, and yes, I'm alright. Eric truly will be a great king. If it wasn't for him and his ships, along with my father and his army, I'd be lost...", and Eric held her hand, kissing her on the temple, "Thank God that didn't come true...I will have to be reassured a lot that you're breathing and alive.".
"Speaking of father...", Grimsby cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, isn't there something you should tell us?". Eric rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled.
"Well, okay, um, the truth is, Ariel isn't some Greek commoner, but a mermaid princess.", Eric admitted. "Her father is Triton whom you saw, Carlotta.".
Carlotta gasped softly, "Oh, my goodness!", and Ariel spoke softly, "Yes, it's true. I am the seventh daughter of King Triton. Atlantica is not far from here.".
"I knew it! I knew it!", Carlotta wagged her finger at Grimsby. "I always knew!", with a grin. "Yes... it appears you were right about this.", Grimsby pulled his collar. "So... um, you know how you kind of were pushing me for a royal match, Grim?", Eric chuckled.
"Well, I don't think our neighbors or much of Europe will take our word on this one. So, and I know this is probably how you would order, but I think we'll keep this information to ourselves.", Grimsby said.
"Agreed. Doubt anyone else will really believe it anyway: heck, I doubt half the crews of our ships believe what they saw.", Eric nodded in agreement.
Ariel smiled with a chuckle, "I don't blame them, Eric. And before you ask, Daddy accepted that I am to be a permanent human so I can be with Eric, with visitation to Atlantica. That's why I don't have a tail right now.".
Grimsby nodded, "Ah, of course, that makes sense. Either way, you must be famished. Both of you look quite hungry, if not tired.", and Eric smiled wryly, "I think we can spare a few bites, but yeah, we are about spent from today...".
"Especially since I nearly didn't make it...", Ariel sighed as the two helpers looked at her. "I'm okay now.", she chuckled. "Don't worry.".
"And don't worry about those pirates... all taken care of... along with their sea witch of a leader. And that's not an insult, she was literally a sea witch.", Eric added.
Carlotta gasped, "Oh, my! Quite a story to tell!", and Grimsby nodded, "Yes, I am quite curious, I have to admit. Let's head to the dining hall and sit down.".
And so, the couple headed for the dining hall, to have a bit of food, and tell the story to Grimsby and Carlotta who listened with rapt attention. They eventually became too tired to eat any more, and with reassurance of answering any questions in the morning, they headed to their bedrooms, where they kept their doors open slightly, with the balcony windows open somewhat to calm the couple down with the ocean breeze and such.
They were soon surprised yet delighted that their dreams are now able to change between environments and forms; under the sea as merpeople, and on the mainland as humans. And with fortunate warning, they kept quiet in announcing to the world that they are making love under the sea which was understandable with everything that happened this very day.