Chapter 2

A Dark Night

In the grand dining hall of Atlantica, the royal family sat at the large table having their vast banquette of the most delicious food that the chefs could construct for the grand party that many of the most respected figures of the great underwater kingdom were attending.

"So you come here often." Adella flirted with a young merman.

"Oh, not that often. Although I might have good reason to return on a regular basis." he played along earning a giggle while Alana rolled her eyes.

Triton looked towards the sit where Ariel should have been.

"Sebastian. Have you seen Ariel?" he whispered to the crustacean.

"Not yet your majesty."

"What about Flounder?"

"No. I haven't seen either of them."

"Tell Will to inform me, the moment she gets back."

"Yes sire." he swam off, leaving Triton to return to his meal.

An hour after dinner, the party was in full swing. Many of the mermen and mermaids danced to the beautiful music while others chatted among themselves.

As Triton watched from his throne, he scanned the room for his youngest daughter.

"Where is she?" he asked in a mixture of irritation and concern. "She should have been home an hour ago."

"She probably lost track of time, again." Attica guessed.

"Don't worry sire. I'm sure she'll be home any moment." Sebastian tried to reassure him.

Just then a yellow fish with blue stripes came rushing into the room. He made his way to the throne through the crowd.

"I'm sorry I'm late I lost track of time." he panted.

"Flounder, have you seen Ariel?" Aquatica asked.

"Not since this morning."

"But didn't you go out with her?" Andrina asked.

"I had a family to tend to when she asked me to go out with her."

Triton's eyes widened with horror. "You let her swim out in the ocean all alone?!"

"Calm down sire, don't make a scene in front of everyone," Sebastian said. "How was he to know that she swim off on her own." Triton glared at him with a raised eyebrow. "Touch'e your majesty."

"I'm sure she'll be fine Daddy," Adella reassured.

"This isn't the first time she's gone off on her own into dangerous waters," Aristaadded earning an elbow from Andrina. "What?"

Triton excused himself from the party before swimming off into a quiet room. "Captain," he called.

A buff merman in golden armour swam up to the king. "Yes sir."

"If my daughter isn't home in the next hour, then you and your men will go out and find her. Search every inch of the ocean if you have to."

"Yes sir." he saluted. He left as the king rejoined the party.

"She'll be fine Daddy." Aquata comforted as he sat back on his throne.

"I sure hope so."

They continued their celebration, trying to hide their anxiety from their guest.


In her lair, Ursula was still going on about her vast "knowledge" of human culture. Ariel listened, mesmerized by it all with wide eyes, having completely lost track of the time.

"Wow. Humans can really make themselves look like whales?"

"Indeed they can." she turned to her eels and whispered. "Especially after ten helpings of cake." She then spoke to the redhead. "Would you like to know more?"

"Maybe tomorrow." Ariel yawned.

"Tired Angelfish?"

Ariel nodded, her eyes barely able to stay open. "I should be heading back. Daddy will be worried if I don't get home before dark."

"Oh, but you can't swim home by yourself in your condition. Stay for the night. I'm sure Daddy will understand."

"Thank you for the offer." the tired mermaid yawned. "but I..." She was cut off by a tentacle around her mouth.

"Now, now, Ariel, I insist. You can sleep in my bed tonight." Ursula led her to the shell-like bed.

"Thank you," Ariel said before swimming into the bed and immediately falling asleep. Ursula beamed before swimming over to her cauldron. She scooped up the potion into a bottle and gulped it down. "This is going swimmingly." She began to create the final potion for her scheme. "Soon I'll be living the high life while that little princess will be no more." she chucked as she summoned the golden clouds over the cauldron. Once the potion was completed she muttered a chant and the golden cloud spread across the ocean.

A soft chuckle came from the sea witch as she head into a spare bedroom.


In their bedroom, the six daughters of Triton slept roughly as the cloud enter through the window. As it passed over them, small speckles of dust fell upon the sleeping princesses. They let out small groans as the spell entered their ears and worked its magic into their brains.

Triton was just about to head off to bed when a small seahorse came into the room.

"Did you find her?" he asked.

"No, your majesty. There's no sign of your daughter anywhere. Will answered.

"Well, keep looking. Leave no shell unturned, no coral unexplored."

"Yes, your majesty." The sea horse swam off to inform the others.

Triton sorrowly swam with his head held low "Where could she be?" Unbeknownst to him Ursula's dark cloud followed him into his bed chambers, slinking like a snake hunting a mouse. Once he finally fell into slumber the cloud cast its magic onto him. He groaned as felt the dark magic altered his brain. All through the night the golden cloud cast its dark spell on the creatures of the vast sea from the most microscopic plankton to the largest blue whales.

It was only when the sun rose over the horizon and the light returned to the ocean floor that the cloud disappeared.

The sisters awoke, stretching their arms just as two of their ladies-in-waiting entered the room.

"Good morning princesses." the older one with grey hair said.

"Morning Susan." they greeted.

"Did you sleep well." the younger blonde lady in waiting asked.

"Not really," Attina stated.

"We're still so worried about Vanessa," Arista added.

"We all are, sweety."

"Don't worry. They'll find her."

"I hope so," Aquata whispered.

They prepared for the day ahead, still worried about the whereabouts of their lost sister.