Chapter 3

Ariel's Grotto

Ariel, Flounder and I explored that Shunken Ship until evening. We found many human things. I suggested to Ariel that she needed a bigger bag to carry the stuff in but she simply said that she will come back tomorrow or another time to explore again "Oh don't be silly Urchin, we can always come back another time plus i've got you to help me carry stuff!" Ariel says with a grin.

"Gee Ariel, i'm still a little worried about your dad finding out through!" i say to her concernly as we leave the Shunken Ship in peace while being mindful of sharks. Ariel while having had ignored my comment stops in her tracks and turns to face us "Now then lets go to Scuttle, he will be able to tell us all about the human things that we found!".

"Scuttle?" i question her, Flounder then swims in front of my face "Scuttle the seagull he lives above the surface". My eyebrows raise "You mean you guys have been up to the surface before?" i ask in concern, "Oh just a few times but don't worry we weren't seen, Scuttle is a friend!" Ariel explains.

I was feeling nervous but curious about the idea of going up to the surface to meet Ariel's seagull friend. I had been up to the surface before one or twice with her but while there had been no one around not even land birds like Scuttle "Hey Ariel, its getting late, i think its almost night fall!" i tell her noticing how dark the sea was getting now.

"Yeah, Urchin's right its getting scary now!" Flounder cried, "You scaredy squids! Maybe your right, perhaps we should leave Scuttle's visit for another time" Ariel tells us thankfully. Flounder and I were relieved. "So back to the palace then?" i ask her "and risk in my father seeing what we have collected! Come on i have somewhere secret where i keep these treasures!" she tells us happily. I look at Flounder with a confused face while he just smiled at me like he knew where we were headed for next.

Ariel swims off quickly while Flounder and i follow behind her. I then ask Flounder if he knew where she was taking us "Its a secret place!"" says Flounder. "Secret place hey?" i say in my mind, i was beginning to feel quite honoured to be introduced to her secret place!. As i pressed on my fins to catch up to the Princess, i soon find that we were just on the outskirts of Atlanica.

Ariel then disappears behind a reef "Ariel?" i cry, "Down here guys!" we hear her cry back. We managed to find her, with that red hair how can you miss her!. I look around and notice we had come to a large flatish rock that was against a wall of a reef "Urchin, would you kindly do the honours?" she asks me.

I look at her confusingly "Ummm, what do you mean?" i ask her, she giggles and points towards the large rock. I then hear Flounder whisper something in my ear "She means if you can move the rock to the side", "Oh, ok!" i say before i grab the side of the rock. Why does she want the rock to be moved? I thought in my head, is this the secret place hiding within this reef!.

This was getting more and more exciting, i was very interested to see what was hiding behind the rock, plus in another part of my mind i get to show Ariel how strong i am!. I was so eager to impress her, i used all my strength to move this particularly heavy boulder. Then in seconds the rock began to move revealing an entry to a Grotto!.

"Oh Urchin, you are so strong!" Ariel cries, i begin to blush again maybe i should tell her about my feelings now "Oh its nothing really! Always happy to help! I...I" i being to say to her. However, she had already swum into the Grotto along with Flounder "Come on Urchin!" i hear her voice throughout the tunnel. My opportunity was crushed but maybe i will try again once i get inside.

I got to the end of the tunnel and my mouth dropped as i gazed at all of Ariel's treasures that she had collected from shunken ships. Ariel gave me a welcome "Welcome to my Grotto...Well, what do you think?" she gentley asks while biting a nail on her finger. I think she nervous about my reaction. After doing a full spin around, i finally managed to give her an answer "Wow Ariel, this is amazing and you have kept this secret from the king all this time? i asked her.

"He will never understand Urchin! So keeping this a secret from him is the best choice! Only you and Flounder know!" Ariel informs me as she and Flounder find places to put her new human objects we found eariler. I understood her decision and promised not to tell Sebastian either "What about Sebastian? You know how nosey he can be!" i ask her "Your right, no...he doesn't know ethier and i would very much like it to stay that way...please Urchin! Promise you will not tell?" she says to me.

"You have my word Ariel!" i answer to her "Oh thank you! I knew i could trust you!" the Princess swims towards me to give me a hug. As i felt her arms around my lower shoulders my body turned to jelly and my face went red. I was at least able to move my arms to hug her back. Just placing them underneath hers beneath her arm pits. This felt nice, it was a short one but still nice.

"Ariel?" i say, "Yes Urchin? What is it?" Ariel answers as she pulls away from me to finish putting the few last treasures away. I swam up towards her nervously "I...I...I", she looks at me with a smile but with a face that red "Come on spit it out". I take a deep breath and began to speak to her "Your amazing!" i shouted, "Sorry Urchin what was that?' she simply asked with a smile.

"Your, your, Grotto is amazing!" i tell her "Awww thank you Urchin! Its a work in progess, really appreciate your kind comment!" Ariel gentley answers back to me. She then swims up to one of the highest shelves and begins to talk to herself "Ah this spot is perfect for this thing a ma jig". Flounder stays with me "Urchin why do you have a confused look on your face?" he asks.

The little fish had very clevery red my look on face. He was right i was confused. Confused about the reaction i got from Ariel but then i realised i stupidly said the word Grotto in my last complement. Stupid me! I let my nerves over take me again!.