Long before Prince Eric and Ariel's love story, another love story took place in the archipelago. However, this one was far more tragic then how the Little Mermaid's tale ended. Twenty-five years ago, another island empire faced a series of tragic events before either Eric or Ariel were born. The island was named Aigygo and was governed by the attractive and just King Jericho and his stunning wife, Queen Lorelei. They had one daughter together, the gorgeous Princess Vanessa.

Everyone adored King Jericho and his precious daughter, Princess Vanessa. However, most of the Aigygo care not for their Queen. Queen Lorelei wasn't anything like her husband. King Jericho adored the sea and adventure and treated everyone in the kingdom fairly and equally, regardless of background or status. He was handsome and kindhearted and always treated his subjects like his own family.

Thus, no one understood why he married such a close-minded, callous, and judgmental woman as Lorelei. Or at least the younger generation didn't know it was an arranged marriage to build an alliance between other domains in the archipelago. Still, even with an arranged marriage, most felt they could have found somebody better suited for their sovereign then Lorelei. Her beauty was skin deep, and she spoke harshly to everyone she encountered. There were even whispers she was quite vicious when it came to her own daughter.

Such as today when the royal family was dining. The Queen looked down at her plate of food in disgust. "Tell me again, why must we have only meals from the sea? I've grown so sick of fish. Why can't we have something different? Surely, Jericho. You could sail to the mainland and bring back different food or animals for us to feast upon rather then fish!" she griped harshly.

Vanessa kept her head down as her parents argued. This wasn't the first time her mother expressed her loathing for anything related to the sea. She despised the sea with a passion. Vanessa hated how her parents quarreled so much. They'd been fighting about everything for as long as she could remember. She ate her fish quietly before excusing herself to attend to her lessons.

As she left, she could still hear her parents bickering as she reached the music room. Her mother insisted a princess must have a captivating singing voice. Vanessa did have a decent voice, but it wasn't good enough for her mother. She glanced up at her music instructor, Madame Minerva. She had the loveliest voice on the island, which many said rivaled the merfolk themselves.

Of course, no one spoke of anything concerning the sea or the creatures beneath the waves. Lorelei deemed it all ridiculous, childish nonsense, and she wouldn't have it in her kingdom. However, most individuals, even Vanessa, believe in the legends of the sea. Her secret dream was to meet a mermaid, as her father claimed he did before he wedded her mother.

Still, she looked at the middle-aged instructor who told them it was time to start their lessons. Minerva asked her pupil, "What are your parents bickering about this time, my lovely child?" she asked kindly.

Vanessa sighed, "Mother is once again bringing up her hatred of the sea because most of the time, we eat the fruits of the sea. She wants something unrelated to the sea to eat. She's demanding Father go to the mainland and bring back food unrelated to the sea."

Minerva shook her head, "No offense, my child. But your mother never should've been chosen as your father's bride. I remember how there were three other islands whose daughters would've all made such better brides and romantic companions.

However, your grandfather was stupid when it came to choosing. He only sought an alliance with the most powerful kingdom, not even considering the long-term consequences of what would happen to his own."

"I know my grandfather was an idiot, Madame Minerva. So I'm not offended, yet I wish there were some way my father could undo his vows so he could marry for love and not a political alliance."

"Yet such is the way of court politics, I'm afraid. We should start your lesson before your mother comes in to yell at me."

"Yes, we should," the brunette princess nodded. They practiced for two hours, and while Minerva knew Vanessa had a good voice, the Queen would never be satisfied unless her student surpassed her own.

Meanwhile, beneath the waves, the colony kingdom of Merrow was having similar problems. Only they were the exact opposite in terms of who was the abusive or neglectful parent. King Aalto was as handsome as King Jericho. However, he wasn't anything like him. He was more like Lorelei. Seeing how he despised anything to do with the human world, demanded perfection, and never realized how messed up his own family was.

Once again, King Aalto spent long hours with his firstborn son, Prince Marco. He'd been grooming him to lead their kingdom since day one. His obsession with his firstborn so consumed him that he constantly ignored the fact that he had a second child or that his wife, also of an arranged marriage, was entirely neglected and unhappy.

"Now, Marco, please recite all the laws in the old tongue," the King requested his eldest. Marco complied and did it perfectly. "Excellent, Marco. You're a genuine prodigy! No doubt you'll go down as one of the greatest kings of the sea.

Even better then my cousin King Triton, who only reluctantly allowed these colony kingdoms to be created. Yet, my cousin's time will eventually end, and then, my son, you'll be the proper King of the Sea!"

"Thank you, Father. What else do you wish of me?" Marco asked his beloved father. Before his father could answer, Marco's little brother Merrick swam inside.

"Excuse me, Father, dear brother. But Mother said I should show you this," the younger prince said as he handed a piece of paper to his father, who wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"You came to show me how you failed yet another exam?" his father harshly demanded, causing his younger son to cringe.

"But Father, I didn't fail! I only missed one question. Surely a passing grade is worth celebrating."

"You're so dumb, little brother, too dumb to realize that almost isn't enough. You need to be the very best! Missing one question only shows how inadequate your intelligence is! Please leave. Father and I have more important things to do then deal with your lack of intelligence."

Merrick wanted to cry, but the merfolk couldn't, so they suffered more. Still, he bowed his head and left for his mother, Queen Aquamarine's chambers. She was busy brushing her long platinum hair when her dark-haired son returned. When she saw her son's expression, she was about to ask how it went. "Oh, Merrick," she whispered, putting down the brush and hugging him. Her son took comfort before pulling away.

"Mother, why am I not good enough for Father? He's never once praised me for anything in my life. He allows Marco to belittle me. He thinks Marco is perfect even though he makes mistakes, too."

"I wish I could change your father. I've tried talking to him multiple times, but he refuses to listen. All I can say is one day both shall pay for their misdeeds and abusive ways."

"I hope so, Mother. I hope they pay dearly!"